Pest Alert – Large Patch Fungus (Brown Patch Fungus) is attacking lawns across the Lowcountry. The cooler temperatures have triggered an explosion of the disease. Try to keep your watering to a minimum. If you have an active infestation, Serenade and Rhapsody are two organic products that we have been getting good reports on at Possum’s. Serenade and Rhapsody contain a strain of bacteria that competes with the fungus. Cleary’s and PCNB as a one two punch are still getting the job done.
Try to control this disease as soon as possible or you will see it again next spring. The weakened areas will also be a good place for weeds to move in and take up residency.
Correcting drainage problems, reducing thatch, managing your irrigation systems and aerating to alleviate compaction will help reduce large Patch in your lawn. Since Large Patch is a soil borne fungus, it will usually pop up in the same areas year after year and it will take several years of doing the right things culturally to correct it 100 percent.  
Do you remember Large Patch in the early days?
I do not know how old you are or how observant you are toward the landscape, but before irrigation systems and before builders removed all the organic matter from a lot to avoid settling of the house, Large Patch was not near the issue it is today. Next time you fly in a plane, look out the window and notice the new houses all lined up without any trees. All the organic matter in the soil has been removed as well as all the bio-diversity of microorganisms in the topsoil. Your grandparent’s house most likely had big trees and good soil; however, the brick might have a crack in it from settling.
In the areas you have noticed Large Patch in the past or where you have a current outbreak, try to use organic products (Nature’s Blend does a great job as well as Cotton Burr Compost). Organic products will increase the bio-diversity of the soil, and the good microorganisms will compete with the bad microorganisms. Using a product that increases chitin eating microorganisms in these areas known for Large Patch will also help. The exoskeletons of fungus and nematode eggs are high in chitin.  At Possum’s, we have been getting good feedback on a product from Neptune Harvest called Crab Shell. Consider using this product in the garden to prevent nematodes.
Let the professionals formulate this product for you. About 20 years ago, I tried to develop my own organic product in my backyard for my own use that was based on crab shells, shrimp shells and left over organic stuff from shrimp baiting. The wind constantly blew away from my house, so I never noticed an odor (or the maggots). However, let’s just say my down wind neighbor was not too thrilled with the organic bio-diversity of microorganisms that I had brewing in my backyard.
Another bonus of using Aqueduct on your lawn, other than saving major dollars on your water bill, is that you will have less dew on your grass. Dew is a breeding ground for disease. Last week, I had one customer tell me that by using wetting agents he lowered his fungicide treatments down to one. He would have treated St. Augustine grass a minimal of seven times in previous years.
Aqueduct is helping out and saving money!
Once again, I can see I got too fired up about one topic. Here is a quick list that I will expand on in weeks to come: Dormant oil, moles, roaches, rats, mice, bulbs, transplanting, planting, Lowcountry winterizing turf fertilizer (watch out for the ads that assume you have fescue grass playing right now in this market), fall feeding of trees and shrubs, soil testing for 2010 and  more.

Bill Lamson-Scribner can be reached during the week at Possum’s Landscape and Pest Control Supply, 481 Long Point Rd in Mt. Pleasant (971-9601), 3325 Business Circle in North Charleston (760-2600), or 606 Dupont Rd, in Charleston (766-1511).  Fax your questions to 406-2700 or e-mail them to your newspaper’s editors. You can also call in your questions to “ The Garden Clinic”, Saturdays from 12-1 p.m. on 1250 WTMA  (The Big Talker).