Spring Dead Spot

  • Scientific Name: Leptosphaeria korrae

Spring Dead Spot

Causal Agent

Leptosphaeria korrae

What is Spring Dead Spot?

Spring Dead Spot is typically a disease of mature turf that is intensively managed. Spring dead spot causes circular patches of bleached, straw coloured dead grass to appear in spring as the dormant grass regrows.

What are the Symptoms of Spring Dead Spot?

Symptoms of spring dead spot generally include:

  • Circular patches of bleached, straw coloured dead grass appear in Spring as the dormant grass resumes growth.

  • Patches are also visible in Autumn and Winter after a series of unusually cool days or wet, cold weather. These patches may range from a few centimetres to 1m in diameter. They can reappear and expand in the same spot for 3 or more years.

  • After 2 to 3 years, the centres of active patches may remain alive, and the patch takes on a “ringlike” appearance.

  • Rings that coalesce can appear as serpentine arcs.

  • Roots of affected plants turn dark brown to black and are severely rotted.

  • Regrowth of grass into affected patches is slow and patches may remain barren of fill with weeds.

  • When the grass recolonises an affected area it remains stunted.

What turfgrasses are especially susceptible to Spring Dead Spot?

Common couch grass, South African couch grass and their hybrids.

When does spring dead spot occur?

The conditions favouring spring dead spot are:

  • Most active when temperatures are cool (12 to 14°C) and soil is moist.

  • Roots of Couch grow most rapidly at 24 to 29°C and extremely slowly at 15°C, thus the fungus has a competitive advantage at low temperatures.

  • Spring Dead Spot favours cool, wet weather in the spring and autumn and daily temperatures of less than 15°C.

  • This disease is typically found where thatch is more than 1.2cm thick and in locations with poor drainage and low potassium levels.

  • Heavy applications of nitrogen in late summer often increase disease severity the following spring.

  • Spring Dead Spot is more severe on turf that is over three-years old and in locations with long dormancy and cold temperatures.

What can I do to manage or control Spring Dead Spot?

Turf management practices that can help control or reduce instances of spring dead spot include:

  • Preventative systemic fungicide applications. 

  • Good fertiliser management especially nitrogen and potassium. 

  • Control weeds in affected turf to enhance recovery from Spring Dead Spot. 

  • Apply moderate to high levels of phosphorous, potash and minor elements. 

  • Improve drainage of turf. 

  • Reduce thatch

For chemical solutions and treatments for spring dead spot, please see the recommended products below.

PRODUCT SOLUTIONS FOR Spring Dead Spot

Lexicon Intrinsic Fungicide
Active: 167g/L fluxapyroxad, 333g/L pyraclostrobin

Lexicon delivers peak performance under pressure, optimising disease control and providing plants with longer, stronger roots and increased growth....

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Maxtima® Fungicide
Active: 400g/l Mefentrifluconazole

Maxtima® is a revolutionary, broad spectrum DMI fungicide that can be applied on any turf, at any temperature and anywhere on your course.

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Bumper 625 EC Fungicide
Active: 625g/L Propiconazole

Bumper 625 EC is a broad spectrum fungicide specifically registered for the control of Spring Dead Spot and Dollar Spot in a range of turf manageme...

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Chief Topflo Fungicide 5L
Active: 625g/l Iprodione

CHIEF® Topflo is a broad spectrum fungicide registered for the control of Brown Patch, Fusarium Patch, Leaf Spot, Spring Dead Spot and Helminthosp...

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Quali-Pro Enclave Fungicide
Active: 365g/L chlorothalonil, 119g/l Iprodione, 119g/l Thiophanate methyl and 36g/L Tebuconazole

Quali-Pro Enclave is registered for the broad spectrum, eradicant, curative and preventative control of Brown Patch, Fusarium Patch, Anthracnose, D...

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Banner Maxx Fungicide
Active: 15.5% Propiconazole

Banner Maxx is early curative treatment, providing systemic broad-spectrum control of Dollar Spot, Winter Fusarium, and the ERI complex (Couchgrass...

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Headway Maxx Fungicide
Active: 62g/l Azoxystrobin, 104g/l Propiconazole

Headway Maxx combines the strength, longevity and broad spectrum of Heritage Maxx with the speed and early curative action of Banner Maxx in an unb...

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Heritage Maxx Fungicide
Active: 95g/l Azoxystrobin

Heritage Maxx combines systemic activity through xylem mobility, and translaminar movement to encourage multi-site uptake...

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Dedicate Turf and Ornamental Fungicide
Active: 100g/L Trifloxystrobin, 200g/L Tebuconazole

Dedicate turf fungicide contains two active ingredients with two different modes of action, providing curative and preventative control. It has a c...

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Transact 500 Fungicide
Active: 500g/L Iprodione

Transact 500 is a broad spectrum fungicide containing 500 g/L of the active constituent Iprodione. It is registered for the control of Brown Patch,...

Pack:
QTY:
- +
$286.00
Transact Pro Fungicide
Active: 250g/L Iprodione

Transact Pro is a premium locally systemic, broad spectrum fungicide containing 250 g/L of active ingredient Iprodione.

Pack:
QTY:
- +
$302.50
Chipco GT Fungicide
240 g/L iprodione

Chipco GT is a broad-spectrum fungicide providing unsurpassed control of brown patch, dollar spot, various leafspots, and a variety of other t...

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Banner Fairway Fungicide
Active: 250 g/L propiconazole

Banner Fairway is a fungicide registered for the control of control of Spring Dead Spot in Couch and Dollar Spot in Bent Grass and Queensland ...

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Quali-Pro Evolution Advanced Fungicide
Active: 200g/L Tebuconazole, 120g/L Azoxystrobin

Quali-Pro® Evolution® Advance is a premium broad-spectrum fungicide containing 370 g/L Tebuconazole and 222 g/L Azoxystrobin. Building on the str...

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