PUBLICATION W1359

Large Patch vs. Brown Patch in Turfgrass: How to Tell the Difference

Publish Date: March 04 2026 |  Language: English

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Title: Large Patch vs. Brown Patch in Turfgrass: How to Tell the Difference

Summary

Large patch and brown patch are common names referring to turfgrass diseases caused by genetically different strains of the fungus Rhizoctonia solani. The diseases caused by this fungal pathogen are among the most common turfgrass diseases in Tennessee. Historically, large patch and brown patch were considered a single disease, and the terms were sometimes used interchangeably in older Extension and educational materials.