Take-All – How To Stop It

Q: I have a nice front yard that has developed a disease that my Extension office calls “take-all”. It seems like it is spreading; is there a cure?

A: Take-all patch affects all warm season grasses. One way to stop it is to lower the soil surface pH with peat moss. Put down a 1/2-inch layer of brown Canadian peat moss over dead spots. Break the peat into small pieces and distribute it evenly over the area. It’s best if you mow the yard first. Water thoroughly after the peat is spread to settle it to the soil surface. That acidic layer, in contact with the grass runners, retards development of the fungus and allows the grass to regrow strongly. You’ll need one 3.8 cubic foot bale of peat moss per 1000 square feet. I have pictures and the research on this method at http://www.walterreeves.com/lawn-care/take-all-disease/.