--- title: "Detect Summer Turfgrass Diseases – Part 3: Gray Leaf Spot" description: Review these management practices for controlling gray leaf spot, a turfgrass disease that can move quickly, especially if there's heat or moisture stress. image: https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/hubfs/ewing-irrigation-detect-summer-turfgrass-disease-gray-leaf-spot.jpg --- ### Resources [![Ewing Outdoor Supply Logo V 4 Color](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/hubfs/Ewing%20Outdoor%20Supply%20Logo%20V%204%20Color.png) ](https://www.ewingoutdoorsupply.com/) [![Login/Register](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20200354/5d045e9a-574a-4a92-a8cc-1ce2a4352784.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20200354/5d045e9a-574a-4a92-a8cc-1ce2a4352784) 0 You have no items in your shopping cart ### Shop Products Shop Products # Irrigation & Landscape supply Blog # Detect Summer Turfgrass Diseases – Part 3: Gray Leaf Spot [Pat Gross](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/author/pat-gross) on June 22, 2022 Share - [**](https://twitter.com/share?source=https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/ewing-irrigation-detect-summer-turfgrass-diseases-gray-leaf-spot&text=Detect%20Summer%20Turfgrass%20Diseases%20–%20Part%203:%20Gray%20Leaf%20Spot%20-%20https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/ewing-irrigation-detect-summer-turfgrass-diseases-gray-leaf-spot) - [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/ewing-irrigation-detect-summer-turfgrass-diseases-gray-leaf-spot&title=Detect%20Summer%20Turfgrass%20Diseases%20–%20Part%203:%20Gray%20Leaf%20Spot&picture=https://20200354.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/20200354/ewing-irrigation-detect-summer-turfgrass-disease-gray-leaf-spot.jpg&description=Review%20these%20management%20practices%20for%20controlling%20gray%20leaf%20spot,%20a%20turfgrass%20disease%20that%20can%20move%20quickly,%20especially%20if%20there's%20heat%20or%20moisture%20stress.) - [**](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/ewing-irrigation-detect-summer-turfgrass-diseases-gray-leaf-spot&title=Detect%20Summer%20Turfgrass%20Diseases%20–%20Part%203:%20Gray%20Leaf%20Spot&summary=Review%20these%20management%20practices%20for%20controlling%20gray%20leaf%20spot,%20a%20turfgrass%20disease%20that%20can%20move%20quickly,%20especially%20if%20there's%20heat%20or%20moisture%20stress.) - [**](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/ewing-irrigation-detect-summer-turfgrass-diseases-gray-leaf-spot) ![](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/hubfs/ewing-irrigation-detect-summer-turfgrass-disease-gray-leaf-spot.jpg) *This is Part 3 of a three-part series on summer diseases of turfgrass. * Gray leaf spot is another turf disease can show up on your golf course under hot summer conditions. It affects perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, St. Augustine grass, and kikuyu grass mowed at 1 1/2 inches or taller. The disease can move in quickly, especially when there is heat and moisture stress. There is no particular pattern to gray leaf spot–it looks like large swaths of stressed, scorched turf. Upon closer examination, the leaves have water-soaked lesions with a tan center and darker brown outer ring. A defining characteristic of the disease is the twisting and flagging of the leaf tips. The following predictive model for gray leaf spot has been developed to indicate when to make preventive fungicide treatments: *Maximum daily temperature (°F) + Minimum daily humidity (%) = 140* ## Best Management Practices for Gray Leaf Spot Disease ![ewing-irrigation-detect-summer-turfgrass-disease-gray-leaf-spot-kikuyu](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ewing-irrigation-detect-summer-turfgrass-disease-gray-leaf-spot-kikuyu.jpg?width=350&name=ewing-irrigation-detect-summer-turfgrass-disease-gray-leaf-spot-kikuyu.jpg) The following practices will help prevent and treat gray leaf spot: - Maintain adequate moisture. - Maintain moderate nitrogen fertility and keep manganese levels at or above 30 ppm (Melich III). - Use gray leaf spot-resistant varieties of perennial ryegrass and tall fescue for overseeding. - University research has shown that the following fungicides and combinations are effective for treating gray leaf spot: - triadimefon (Bayleton) + chlorothalonil (Daconil Ultrex) - azoxystrobin (Heritage) - pyraclostrobin (Insignia) - trifloxystrobin (Compass) Always verify that fungicides are labeled for use in your state and follow label directions for mixing and application. Additional information on the identification and treatment of gray leaf spot, including fungicide rates and combinations, can be found on the [North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension website](https://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/diseases-in-turf/gray-leaf-spot-in-turf/). [Contact me](mailto:ewinggolf@ewingirrigation.com) with any questions about gray leaf spot or other turf-related topics. Also take time to review Part 1 and Part 2 of this series to set your golf course up for success this summer: • *[Detect Summer Turfgrass Diseases – Part 1 Fairy Ring Disease](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/ewing-irrigation-detect-summer-turfgrass-diseases-fairy-ring) * *• **[Detect Summer Turfgrass Diseases – Part 2 Anthracnose](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/ewing-irrigation-detect-summer-turfgrass-diseases-anthracnose)* TAGS: [Landscape Maintenance](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/landscape-maintenance), [Golf Course Maintenance](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/golf-course-maintenance), [turf maintenance](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/turf-maintenance), [Turf Management](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/turf-management), [turf tips](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/turf-tips), [Diseased Grass](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/diseased-grass), [Turf Disease](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/turf-disease), [Gray Leaf Spot](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/gray-leaf-spot) ### Looking for More? ### Topics - [Ewing News (194)](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/ewing-news) - [Irrigation (191)](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/irrigation) - [News Release (180)](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/news-release) - [Business Tips (134)](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/business-tips) - [Turf (100)](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/turf) - [Water Efficiency (96)](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/water-efficiency) - [Smart Irrigation (85)](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/smart-irrigation) - [Business (79)](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/business) - [Landscape Maintenance (71)](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/landscape-maintenance) - [Outdoor Living (69)](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/outdoor-living) - [Landscape Lighting (61)](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/landscape-lighting) - [Water Conservation (58)](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/water-conservation) - [Athletic Fields (52)](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/athletic-fields) - [Sports Fields (52)](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/sports-fields) - [Golf (50)](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/golf) - [Lawn Care (50)](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/lawn-care) - [Hardscape (47)](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/hardscape) - [Sustainable Solutions (46)](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/sustainable-solutions) - [Ewing Education (45)](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/ewing-education) - [Green Industry (41)](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/tag/green-industry) ## Related [ Managing Localized Dry Spot with Smarter Moisture Solutions ](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/managing-localized-dry-spot-with-smarter-moisturesolutions) By [Kevin Lewis](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/author/kevin-lewis) On July 7, 2026 [ Managing Sports Fields with Smart Irrigation Technology ](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/managing-sports-fields-with-smart-irrigation-technology) By [Ian Yarian](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/author/ian-yarian) On July 2, 2026 [ Smart Irrigation Starts with the Controller ](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/smart-irrigation-starts-with-the-controller) By [Greg Williams](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/author/greg-williams) On June 30, 2026 ## Related ## [The Growing Popularity of Turf Colorants: A Sustainable Solution for Green Lawns](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/the-growing-popularity-of-turf-colorants-a-sustainable-solution-for-green-lawns) By [Mike Maravich](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/author/mike-maravich) On September 6, 2024 ## [Ewing Releases Turf Overseeding & Renovation White Paper](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/ewing-releases-turf-overseeding-and-renovation-white-paper-2024) By [Ewing Outdoor Supply](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/author/ewing-outdoor-supply) On August 14, 2024 ## [Overseeding Process Trends and Tips for 2024](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/overseed-trends-and-tips-for-2024) By [Kevin Lewis](https://ewingirrigation-20200354.hs-sites.com/author/kevin-lewis) On August 9, 2024 ### Subscribe via Email Enter your email to get special offers, exclusive discounts, and more! 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