A five-visit program built specifically for Davis County lawns dealing with necrotic ring spot, patch fungus, and other fungal diseases.
Necrotic ring spot is the most destructive disease of Kentucky bluegrass in Utah. It is perennial, meaning the fungus lives in the soil year-round and can return every season. Recovery from an outbreak is slow because the fungus attacks roots and crowns, not just grass blades. This program follows the same five-visit structure as our standard lawn care plan, but swaps in fungicide treatments and a specialized slow-release liquid fertilizer designed to help lawns fight NRS and recover over time.
Necrotic ring spot (NRS) is a fungal disease caused by Ophiosphaerella korrae. It is the most common and most damaging lawn disease in Utah’s Kentucky bluegrass lawns. In Davis County, NRS is widespread because the conditions that encourage it are the same conditions most lawns grow in: clay soil, alkaline pH, and cool-season grass.
The fungus lives in the soil and infects grass roots and crowns. It does not just kill the grass blades you can see. It destroys the root system underneath, which is why recovery takes so long. A lawn that looks healthy in spring can develop visible NRS damage by summer and struggle to fill back in for months or even years without treatment.
The most recognizable sign of NRS is ring-shaped or arc-shaped patches of dead or dying grass, sometimes with a tuft of green grass surviving in the center. Homeowners in Davis County often call this pattern “frog eye.” Rings can range from a few inches to several feet across.
Other signs include:
NRS is often confused with drought stress or grub damage. The ring pattern is the key difference. Drought stress tends to be uniform across exposed areas. Grub damage creates spongy patches that pull up easily. NRS creates defined rings or arcs in the same locations season after season.
This program is designed for lawns with active fungus problems or a history of NRS outbreaks. It is not a general lawn care plan with fungicide added as an afterthought. The fertilizer, application timing, and treatment intervals are all adjusted for fungus recovery.
If your lawn is healthy with no fungus history, the standard Full Season Lawn Program covers fertilizer and weed control without fungicide treatments.
If your lawn has insect problems rather than fungus, the Insecticide Protection Program includes grub suppression and free insecticide coverage through the season.
Not sure whether the problem is fungus, insects, or something else? Contact us for a free evaluation. We can look at your lawn and identify what is going on.
This program follows a five-visit schedule from March through October. Four of the five visits include fungicide treatment and a specialized fertilizer formulated for fungus recovery. The timing and spacing of applications may be adjusted from the standard program to maximize fungicide effectiveness.
Liquid application. Pre-emergent, broadleaf weed control (if needed), and Urea fertilizer. This visit is the same as the standard program. It wakes your lawn from dormancy and prevents crabgrass and spurge from germinating through the summer.
Liquid application. Broadleaf weed control and fungicide, plus a 60 % slow-release fertilizer with iron and humates. This is the first fungicide treatment of the season. Getting it down before the initial NRS bloom is critical to controlling the disease through summer.
The 60% slow-release liquid fertilizer is different from the standard program. Slow, steady nutrition helps the turf allocate energy toward root repair and survival without encouraging the rapid top growth that can make NRS worse. The iron supports color and root health while the slow-release delivery avoids nitrogen spikes.
Liquid application. Broadleaf weed control and fungicide, plus a 60% slow-release fertilizer with iron. Back-to-back fungicide applications on Visits 2 and 3 give the best control through the summer months. This is when NRS pressure is building and consistent treatment matters most.
Liquid application. Summer broadleaf weed control and fungicide, plus a 60% slow-release fertilizer with iron, and water retention and wetting agents. Every ingredient is heat-tolerant. This visit protects the root system during peak summer stress.
Liquid application. Broadleaf weed control and fungicide, plus a 60% slow-release fertilizer with iron and wetting agent. This is the fourth fungicide application of the season. The slow-release fertilizer helps repair summer damage and promotes new root and crown growth heading into fall and winter. This recovery period is when treated lawns make the most progress against NRS.
NRS is not a problem you solve in one season. The fungus attacks roots and crowns below the surface, so even after fungicide treatments suppress the disease, the grass has to rebuild its root system before it can fill back in.
In the first season with this program, most lawns show reduced NRS activity. The rings may still be visible, but they typically stop expanding and new rings are less likely to appear. The lawn around the affected areas should start to thicken as the slow-release fertilizer supports recovery.
By the second season, lawns that stay on the program usually show noticeable improvement. Affected areas begin to fill in and the overall density of the turf increases. Some lawns recover significantly in one season if the outbreak was caught early and conditions are favorable.
Full recovery depends on how severe the damage is, how long the fungus has been active, and how well watering and mowing practices support the treatment. This program is designed for the long term, not a one-season fix.
Fungicide and fertilizer are only part of NRS management. What you do between visits matters as much as the treatments themselves.
Watering: Overwatering is one of the most common factors that makes NRS worse. Water deeply but infrequently. Aim for about 1 inch of water per week total, applied in two or three sessions rather than daily light watering. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings. Constantly wet soil creates the conditions NRS thrives in.
Mowing: Keep your mower at 3 to 3.5 inches. Taller grass supports deeper root growth, which helps the lawn resist fungal infection. Never remove more than one-third of the grass blade in a single mowing. Mowing too short stresses the lawn and gives the fungus an advantage.
Thatch management: A thick thatch layer traps moisture near the soil surface, which benefits NRS. Core aeration helps manage thatch and improves drainage. We recommend aerating at least once a year for lawns dealing with fungus problems.
Pets: Keep pets off treated areas until the application has dried completely, usually a few hours depending on weather.
It can. NRS is perennial, meaning the fungus persists in the soil. Treatment suppresses the disease and helps the lawn recover, but it does not eliminate the fungus permanently. Most lawns with NRS history benefit from staying on this program for multiple seasons. Some eventually transition to the standard program once the lawn has recovered and NRS pressure is low.
Yes. Acelepryn grub suppression can be added to Visit 2, just like the standard program. If your lawn has both fungus and insect history, we can include grub suppression alongside the fungicide treatment.
The ring or arc pattern is the key indicator. Drought stress tends to appear in uniform areas, especially in south-facing spots or along sidewalks and driveways. NRS creates defined rings or arcs, often with surviving grass in the center. If you are not sure, contact us for a free evaluation. We can identify the problem and recommend the right program.
Yes, because of the additional fungicide applications and specialized 16-16-16 fertilizer on three of the five visits. Contact us for pricing specific to your property. The cost varies based on lawn size.
We serve Davis County, Utah, including Bountiful, Layton, Kaysville, Farmington, Centerville, Clearfield, Syracuse, Fruit Heights, Woods Cross, West Bountiful, and North Salt Lake.
If your lawn is showing signs of necrotic ring spot or recurring fungus problems, contact us. We will evaluate your lawn, confirm the diagnosis, and recommend the right program for your situation.
Phone: 801-451-2220 Text: 801-893-8836