The strange weather has allowed for an uncommon turf disease to begin appearing in this area of the State.  Ascochyta leaf blight typically is found in places like Colorado, but this year, it’s showing up in Clay and other areas of Nebraska.  Typically the fungal pathogen is favored by hot, dry weather preceded by cool, wet weather-exactly what we’ve had up till this recent wet spell-which also favors the pathogen.  Symptoms include the leaf blades turning straw colored or bleached and dying back from the tips.  Eventually patches of turf may appear straw colored.  

There’s nothing recommended for this disease except to manage your turf properly-mowing at proper height (we recommend 3″), fertilize at proper times, etc.  For more information, check out this source:  http://turf.unl.edu/pdfctarticles/AschochytaMay2011.pdf