The other occurrence was in a perennial ryegrass athletic field, about 10 to 14 days after the application of a fungicide that would be considered less efficacious on Gray Leaf Spot. Both of these instances demonstrate that Gray Leaf Spot is present in Indiana, but unseasonably dry weather along with aggressive fungicide programs may have reduced the potential damage this year. The forecast is for cooler weather, but the disease can still cause damage until the first frost. Keep an eye on perennial ryegrass turfs, especially if unseasonably warm weather returns. Most of Indiana is extremely dry and most lawns are dormant.
Dormancy is a natural occurrence allowing a grass plant to survive drought.
However, September through November are prime growing months and the best time to perform many cultural practices on your lawn. September is the optimum time to fertilize your lawn but the effect of this fertilizer is delayed or minimized if it is applied to a dormant lawn. Well-watered lawns can withstand substantial grub feeding without showing damage and now is when white grubs may be actively feeding under turf. Fertilization in September also encourages rooting and production of storage products that will help the plant survive the stresses of winter and next year's growing season. With the current drought conditions in Indiana, wait to fertilize until the rains return.