Quick answer
Spring dead spot is a fungal disease of Bermuda that shows up as circular dead patches when the lawn greens up in spring. It's common in the transition zone, including Oklahoma.
What It Looks Like
Round patches, often a few inches to a few feet wide, stay straw-colored while the rest of the lawn turns green. Patches often return in the same spots each year.
What Helps
- Avoid heavy nitrogen in late summer and fall
- Reduce thatch and compaction with aeration
- Let surrounding Bermuda fill in; light fertilizer in early summer helps
- Fungicides applied in fall can help in severe, repeat cases
Be Patient
Patches may take most of the summer to fill in. Raking out dead material and encouraging runners speeds recovery.