Take-all patch is a root disease that causes large, circular tan patches in cool-season lawns, primarily in spring and fall rather than summer. It's frequently confused with summer patch — the symptoms look similar — but the pathogen is different, the timing is different, and management priorities differ. Correctly distinguishing them matters if fungicides are being considered.
Pathogen and host range
Per Penn State Center for Turfgrass Science, take-all patch is caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. avenae. Primary hosts are:
- Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) — most susceptible; major problem on golf courses
- Annual bluegrass (Poa annua)
- Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) — home lawn situations
- Perennial ryegrass — occasionally affected
Symptoms
Per NC State TurfFiles, symptoms typically first appear in early spring:
- Circular to irregular patches 2—24 inches or larger, with tan to light brown coloring
- Distinct red-brown to black root and stolon discoloration — the most diagnostic symptom; pull affected turf and roots are dark brown to black
- Patches often have a surviving green center (surviving grass) surrounded by dead material — similar to summer patch frog-eye pattern
- Weeds often fill affected areas, as the disease creates gaps that weed seeds exploit
Unlike summer patch (which peaks in July—August heat), take-all patch symptoms are most visible in April—June and again in September—October.
Conditions that promote take-all patch
Per Penn State Extension:
- Wet, cool soils — the pathogen is active at soil temperatures 55—65°F
- High soil pH (above 6.5) — disease severity increases with alkalinity
- Sandy soils — poor water-holding combined with wet periods creates oscillating stress
- New seedings or recently renovated lawns — newly established turf is more vulnerable
- High phosphorus soils — excess phosphorus in some research has been associated with increased disease severity
- Lime applications that raise pH above 6.5
Take-all patch was once uncommon in home lawns but has increased as homeowners moved from acidic eastern soils toward the 6.5—7.0 pH range often recommended for Kentucky bluegrass.
Cultural management
Per Penn State Center for Turfgrass Science and NC State TurfFiles:
- Adjust soil pH downward — if pH is above 6.5, applying ammonium sulfate fertilizer (acidifying nitrogen source) rather than urea or calcium nitrate reduces disease severity. Target pH 6.0—6.5 for Kentucky bluegrass.
- Avoid over-irrigation in spring and fall — keep soil moisture moderate; do not maintain constantly wet conditions during cool weather
- Apply manganese sulfate — per Penn State Extension, foliar applications of manganese sulfate (1.5—2 oz per 1,000 sq ft) have shown disease-suppressive effects in research trials; manganese is antagonistic to the pathogen
- Reduce lime applications — test soil pH before liming; many lawns do not need lime applications as often as popular guidance suggests
- Core aerate — improves drainage in problem areas
Fungicide management
Per Penn State Center for Turfgrass Science, azoxystrobin (a strobilurin fungicide) is the most consistent fungicide for take-all patch control. Applications should be made preventively in fall (September) or in early spring before symptoms appear. Flutolanil and propiconazole show some activity.
Because fungicide must reach the root zone to affect the soil-borne pathogen, applications should be watered in thoroughly.
Distinguishing take-all patch from summer patch
| Feature | Take-all patch | Summer patch |
|---|---|---|
| Pathogen | Gaeumannomyces graminis | Magnaporthiopsis poae |
| Peak symptoms | April—June, September—October | July—August |
| Root color | Dark brown to black | Dark brown to black |
| Favored pH | High (>6.5) | Variable |
| Soil temperature of infection | 55—65°F | 65—70°F |
| Primary host | Creeping bentgrass, bluegrass | Kentucky bluegrass |
Both produce similar visual symptoms — circular tan patches with dark roots — and laboratory confirmation is needed for certainty.
Common problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Circular tan patches in spring | Take-all patch | Soil test pH; switch to ammonium sulfate nitrogen; azoxystrobin in fall |
| Disease after lime application | pH-promoted take-all patch | Reassess liming frequency; test before applying |
| Persistent annual recurrence | Chronic wet site, pH issue | Address drainage; lower pH with sulfur |
| Patches fill with weeds | Normal following stand loss | Overseed after managing disease |
Frequently asked questions
Should I stop liming my lawn if I have take-all patch? Per Penn State Extension, you should soil test before applying any lime. If pH is already 6.5 or higher and you have take-all patch, stop liming entirely. If pH is below 6.0, a modest lime application may still be appropriate, but high pH clearly increases disease severity.
Is take-all patch contagious from lawn to lawn? Per NC State TurfFiles, the pathogen is soilborne and does not spread readily between adjacent properties without soil movement. If you are doing significant soil work (adding topsoil, installing sod) and the source material is infested, you can import the pathogen.
Can take-all patch be confused with dollar spot? They are visually distinct. Dollar spot produces small (2—4 inch) individual spots with tan lesions showing hourglass patterns on individual blades. Take-all patch produces much larger patches with root damage as the distinguishing feature. Per Penn State Center for Turfgrass Science, examining roots is the fastest way to distinguish root diseases from foliar diseases.
Why does take-all patch affect new lawns more than established ones? Per Penn State Extension, newly established turf has a less developed root system and fewer soil microorganism antagonists to the pathogen. Established lawns with healthy soil biology show "natural suppression" of take-all patch as beneficial microbes build up. Fumigation before establishment can temporarily suppress these beneficial microbes and increase disease risk in newly seeded areas.
Sources
- Penn State Center for Turfgrass Science — Take-All Patch
- NC State TurfFiles — Take-All Patch on Turfgrass
- Cornell Cooperative Extension — Turfgrass Root Diseases