Take-All Root Rot: Identification and Treatment in Georgia
Take-all root rot silently destroys your lawn’s root system. Learn why your turf isn’t responding to care and what it actually takes to fix it.
Disease profile
What Is Take-All Root Rot?
Take-all root rot attacks the root system of warm-season grasses, slowly weakening the turf from below. It’s particularly destructive on St. Augustine in Middle Georgia. The grass yellows, thins, and eventually dies in irregular patches — and because the roots are compromised, the turf doesn’t respond to watering or fertilization the way you’d expect.
Symptoms
How to Identify Take-All Root Rot
Irregular yellow or light-green patches that don’t respond to watering or fertilization
Turf thins progressively over weeks to months
Roots are short, dark brown or black, and rotted
Grass pulls up easily because the root system is severely compromised
Stolons may appear dark and discolored
Affected areas are often initially mistaken for drought stress or nutrient deficiency
Conditions
What Causes Take-All Root Rot
Favorable Conditions
Stressed turf from drought, compaction, or improper mowing
Soil pH above 6.5 (alkaline conditions favor the pathogen)
Excessive rainfall or overwatering that keeps the root zone saturated
Herbicide stress that weakens the turf’s defenses
Areas with recent sod installation or soil disturbance
Spring and fall when the fungus is most active but temperatures are moderate
Susceptible Grass Types
Treatment
How to Prevent and Treat Take-All Root Rot
Cultural Prevention
Maintain proper soil pH (5.5 to 6.0 for St. Augustine) — acidify if pH is too high
Avoid overwatering and improve drainage in problem areas
Reduce stress from improper mowing height or dull mower blades
Apply appropriate micronutrients (manganese can help suppress the pathogen)
Avoid unnecessary herbicide applications on stressed turf
Core aerate to improve root zone health
Professional Treatment
We take a multi-angle approach to take-all root rot. Soil pH correction is often the most impactful step — lowering the pH below 6.0 creates conditions the fungus doesn’t like. We combine that with fungicide applications targeting the root zone, manganese supplementation, and adjustments to watering and mowing practices. This isn’t a one-application fix — it takes a sustained effort over multiple months to turn the lawn around.
Left untreated
What Happens Without Treatment
Take-all root rot is a slow decline that homeowners often mistake for drought or poor soil. The turf thins gradually, and by the time the root damage is severe, large sections of the lawn may be dead. St. Augustine is especially slow to recover because it only spreads by stolons. Without intervention, the lawn continues to decline until the root system can no longer sustain the grass.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Take-All Root Rot
Why won’t my lawn respond to watering or fertilizer?
If your turf is yellowing and thinning despite adequate water and fertilizer, the roots may be compromised. Take-all root rot destroys the root system from below. Pull up a section of affected grass — if roots are short, dark, and rotted, that confirms the disease.
How is take-all root rot different from other diseases?
Most lawn diseases attack the leaves and stems. Take-all root rot attacks the roots, so the damage happens underground before you see symptoms above. That’s why it’s often misdiagnosed as drought stress or nutrient deficiency.
Does soil pH really affect lawn disease?
Absolutely. Take-all root rot thrives in alkaline soil (above pH 6.5). Lowering the pH to the 5.5-6.0 range with sulfur or acidifying fertilizers creates conditions that suppress the pathogen and help the grass recover.
How long does recovery from take-all root rot take?
Expect 3 to 6 months of sustained treatment before the lawn shows meaningful improvement. New roots need to develop, and the turf needs time to rebuild density. St. Augustine is the slowest to recover. Bermuda and zoysia bounce back faster.
Take action
Stop Take-All Root Rot Before It Spreads
Every day without treatment is another day the damage gets worse. Get professional disease control backed by our expert lawn care team.
