Problem: Warm-Weather Grasses Becoming Dormant
Problem Info
Brown patches of irregular shape and size develop with the first fall frost. The leaf and stem structure look different on the dead grass than on living grass. No signs of insect or disease damage appear. Two of the most common invading warm-weather grasses are zoysia and bermudagrass. They turn brown in the fall, while cool-weather grasses remain green through the winter.
Analysis
Warm-weather perennial grasses become dormant with the onset of cold weather. The tops die back, but the perennial roots live over the winter and resprout in the spring. Two of the most common invading warm-weather grasses are zoysiagrass and bermudagrass. They turn brown in the fall, while cool-weather grasses (bluegrass, fescue, and bentgrass) remain green through the winter.
Solution Advice
Eradicating these grasses from the lawn is very difficult. Once the grass turns brown, it is too late to treat. Spot-treat affected areas the following year. A Bermudagrass or Zoysia grass lawn can be removed and overseeded in the Fall with a cool season grass like Perennial Ryegrass or a Winter Lawn Mix to keep the lawn green all year long.
