Pythium blight
Pythium species
Greasy, matted patches that can move quickly in wet, hot conditions.
What to look for
- Small wet-looking patches can become dark, flattened and matted.
- Cotton-like growth may be present during high humidity.
- Damage may follow water movement or spread along traffic patterns.
Confirm it before you treat it
Pythium blight, root rot and damping-off are different problems. Similar-looking patches can have other causes. Rapid deterioration deserves prompt diagnosis from a fresh sample and photographs, rather than trialling several products.
What to do next
- Contact Turfmate promptly if damage is expanding quickly. Include grass type, recent temperatures, watering and any chemical history.
- Reduce unnecessary leaf wetness and correct drainage where practical without drought-stressing the rest of the lawn.
- Avoid moving wet infected material across healthy areas; review mowing and traffic while the problem is assessed.
Conditions matter more than dates.
Hot, humid weather with prolonged wetness can favour foliar blight. Root problems can also be associated with saturated, poorly drained soil.
Watch during humid summer or tropical wet-season weather. A calendar cannot predict an outbreak at a particular site.
Can I use Solitaire to rescue an active outbreak?
No. The current Solitaire label restricts it to preventative use. Ask us to assess an active problem and plan future protection separately.
Similar problems. Different solutions.
Dollar spot
Small bleached patches, pale leaf lesions and morning dew.
Identify & find a solution ↗
Winter Fusarium / Microdochium patch
Pale, matted patches in cool, wet turf; snow is not required.
Identify & find a solution ↗Reviewed 10 October 2026 · Turfmate. Seasonal windows are indicative planning guidance, not measured outbreak or prevalence data.
Technical sources & image credits
- NC State: Pythium blight
- ProForce Solitaire 240ME Australian product label
- Brown patch — Photo: Scot Nelson · source · CC0. Displayed at reduced size; card crops fit the layout.
- Dollar spot — Photo: Glenobear · source · Public domain. Displayed at reduced size; card crops fit the layout.
- Winter Fusarium / Microdochium patch — Photo: William M. Brown Jr., Bugwood.org · source · CC BY 3.0 US. Displayed at reduced size; card crops fit the layout.
Photos support identification and may have been taken outside Australia. Appearance varies with species, mowing and conditions. A Turfmate product link does not imply endorsement by a photographer or source.