We irrigate too frequently and fertilize too heavily. These actions, combined with poor soil, lead to thatch build-up. All turf diseases in Colorado are caused by fungi and all cause the grass to thin out and to appear patchy. To identify exactly what's happening to your grass, however, you need to get down on your hands and knees and look at individual grass blades. Here are the common turf diseases, followed by a list of non-chemical controls that will help promote a healthy lawn.
Symptoms begin at the tip of the grass blade.
Blades will be straw-colored and, where healthy tissue meets dead, you'll find a definite pinch in the blade. Leaf spot and melting out disease probably is one of the most common diseases of the home lawn. Elliptical-shaped spots are surrounded by a dark purple border. Tissue in the center of the spot may turn straw-colored. If the spot extends across the leaf, the blades wither and die.