Question
I'm taking over my lawn care maintenance from one of the big national chains. I live in the Atlanta, GA area with Bermuda grass and my brown patches of fungus have gotten worse each year even after paying for additional fungicide treatments. I was headed out to buy the Scotts fungicide and start a proactive treatment program when I came across this and other sites stating that may not be the best way to approach the problem. I keep my blade sharp. Can you set me on the right path early in the season? I hate staring at those big brown dead spots in my front yard once everything greens up.

Thanks

Answer
The first thing to do is correctly identify the problem. The best way to do this is to eliminate all other causes.
Is the grass dead because of lack of water? Check irrigation.
Insects? Soap flush the lawn in a few places. Be sure to include dead and good grass each time. Identify all the insects which come up and treat for only the harmful ones.
Check that any dead areas are not due to "spills". If a vehicle has been regularly parked on an area, then oil and other fluids may cause dead patches. Consider also builder's waste. Could the builders have buried rubbish in any of the areas?
After you have eliminated the other causes then it is a fungus. Treat it according to the label directions of the product you use.
Finally, it is unnecessary (and unwise) to apply preventive applications of chemicals. Treat for the problem that you know to exist.