Extension, Utah State University

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10Top 10 Turf Problems inNorthern UtahBermudagrass• Perennial• Wiry, strong, stem runners above ground• Creeping below-ground roots• Herring bone leaf pattern along the stem• Seed head composed of 3 to 7 finger-like spikes• Thrives under dry, hot conditionsCrabgrass• Annual• Shallow, fibrous root system• Seed head composed of 3 to 4 finger-like spikes• Becomes apparent in mid to late summer• Stems radiate out from a central point• Becomes a reddish-purple color as weather cools, dies after first frostBlack Medic• Short lived perennial• Deep root system• Leaves resemble clover• Low growing• Bright yellow, small, pineapple shaped flower clustersBill Bugs• Causes brown lawn areas, similar to drought• Grass pulls up easily; often in clumps• Small, white, legless grubs with an orange-brown head• Adult is small, black beetle with a snout• Damage appears in late June through AugustDrought• First symptom is darkening (charcoal-green color) of the lawn• Prolonged drought causes turf to go dormant and turn straw colored• Check for drought by inserting a  screw driver into the soil; if too dry itwill penetrate no more than about half an inch• Grass suffering from drought will not pull up easily• Turf with mild drought stress will green up within an hour of thoroughwatering• May take 10 days of proper irrigation to recover from severe droughtHFS-01April 2002Foliar Diseases• Appear as brown areas in the lawn• Grass will not pull out easily• Only a section of the leaf blade will be affected• Caused by various foliar fungi• High humidity from frequent irrigation or evening irrigations, wherethe lawn stays wet for long periods, creates an ideal environment forfoliar diseases• Excessive nitrogen fertilization produces lush growth that is moresusceptibleWhite Grubs• Brown lawn areas, similar to drought• Grass pulls up easily, sod can be rolled back like a carpet• Birds and skunks often feed in infested areas• Large, white grub with 6 legs and a brown head• Grub curls into a “C” when disturbed• Adults are large beetlesFairy Ring• Appears as a ring or arc of darker, lush grass with lighter coloredcenter• Caused by a fungus growing on organic matter in the soil, forming amass of white mycelial threads• Mushrooms (fruiting bodies of the fungus) appear around the edge ofthe fairy ring during wet periods• Ring enlarges by 6 to 24 inches each year• Soil in the center of ring is resistant to water absorption; grass maydie during dry weather• Buried organic matter or thick thatch encourages fairy ring growth• Overwatering may encourage fairy ringsSpurge• Annual• Prostrate (low to the ground)• Shallow, fibrous root system• Stems radiate out from a central point• Broken stems exude a milky white sap• Many have a purple spot in the center of each leaf• Stems are pink-red colorTall Fescue• Perennial• Clumping, bunch grass• Grows faster and taller than bluegrass• Wide bladed, dark green, shiny leaves• Turf type tall fescues are appropriate for low water use landscapesUtah State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Issued infurtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperationwith the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Jack M. Payne, Vice President and Director,Cooperative Extension Service, Utah State University.

Top 10 Turf Problems in Northern Utah

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