Tall Fescue

• Tall fescue is a cool-season grass. It is used mostly in the southern parts of the United States because of its tolerance of shade and ability to stay green in winter. New cultivars of tall fescue have a finer texture than many other commonly used warm-season grasses, and they have lower maintenance requirements. However, cool-season grasses such as tall fescue experience stress during some of the South's hot summers and are notably open to infection and insect infestation.
  
  

Gray Spot Disease

• Leaf spot diseases are caused by fungal organisms. Gray spot is caused by Pyricularia grisea and forms during the warm, humid periods of the season. The blades get small, round grayish brown spots that enlarge to light brown with purple or brown edges. This may be accompanied by a yellow halo. The leaves eventually are entirely yellow, then whither and die. Turf grass is thinned in areas where the disease is the most prevalent. Fungicides applied in late spring every week or two usually can control the disease.
  
  

White Grub

• Lawns with white grubs wilt and develop brown patches. The roots will get eaten and the sod loose. Peel back the sod to see the white grubs. White grubs are the larvae of beetles called masked chafers and typically infest grass in sunny areas. They may attract raccoons and skunks, who dig up sections of the lawn trying to get to the grubs. Lawns that are frequently irrigated surrounded by dry ground increase the incidence of white grubs in the lawn.
  
  

Condtions for Grubs and Gray Spot

• Grubs and gray spot fescue problems are found in lawns with high moisture content. The adult beetles look for damp lawns in which to lay their eggs. Lawns with poor vigor brought on by other conditions are more likely to have higher infestations of grubs. Gray spot occurs most frequently when the lawn has higher amounts of nitrogen. Excess moisture in high humidity conditions encourages the formation of the fungus. The fungus and the larvae occur in the summer.