Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Inspect the spots for white, cobweb like fungal growth in the early morning.
- Check your irrigation timer to ensure you are watering before 8 AM.
- Test your soil nitrogen levels with a simple home kit.
Likely causes
Dollar Spot
Most likelyHow to tell: You will see small, silver or bleached circular spots about the size of a coin. These spots often merge into larger, irregular patches during high humidity.
What to do: Apply a fungicide labeled for dollar spot control. Water only in the early morning to ensure the grass dries out quickly during the day. Increase airflow by thinning out nearby shrubs or trees.
Nutrient Deficiency
PossibleHow to tell: The grass looks thin and develops small, light colored spots that do not look like typical fungal lesions. This often happens when nitrogen levels are too low.
What to do: Apply a balanced nitrogen fertilizer to encourage new growth. Follow the package instructions for the specific square footage of your lawn. Water the area well after application to prevent burning.
Find out what's wrong with your creeping bentgrass
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
If the spots begin to merge and cover large sections of your lawn, you need to act quickly to prevent total turf loss. Small, isolated spots are normal during peak summer humidity.
Stopping it coming back
Keep your nitrogen levels consistent and always water early in the morning so the grass blades dry out before nightfall.
Creeping bentgrass: spots? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your creeping bentgrass and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
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Questions people ask
- Can I just mow the spots away?
- Mowing can help remove the infected tips, but it will not kill the fungus living in the soil. You must address the moisture and nutrient levels to stop the spread.
- Does this mean my grass is dying?
- Not necessarily. Creeping bentgrass is resilient, and if you treat the fungal infection early, the grass will recover and fill back in.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Creeping bentgrass
Back to the Creeping bentgrass guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.