Plant diagnostics is an important role of Nebraska Extension. Positive diagnosis of plant issues is needed for effective management to reduce damage. It also limits unnecessary use of pesticides that can cause environmental harm or pest resistance. Here are plant problems I’ve been asked about or diagnosed recently.
Weather extremes from hot to cool and dry to wet provide ideal conditions for Ascochyta tip blight in lawns. This fungal disease causes large or patchy areas of a lawn to suddenly turn tan and appear dead. Fortunately, only grass blades are infected, not the roots or growing points, and lawns recover without treatment. A key symptom is grass blade tips appear bleached white. While this lawn disease seems severe and is caused by a fungus, fungicides are not needed and have little effect on the fungus or the disease. Lawns grow out of the damage and recover on their own.
On spruce, I’ve had a number of samples and photos of new growth on branch tips turning brown and drooping, often on one side of the tree. This is dessication of new tender growth due to hot temperatures and high winds we had earlier this spring. Clip off the brown tips to improve the trees appearance and it will be fine.
