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Lawn Disease
Mother nature is a powerful force and we have to work with her when caring for our lawns. Sometimes this can be a challenge and comes in the form of critters such as or airborne diseases which attack our gorgeous grass plants such as Red Thread of Fusarium. Pesticides used in lawn care are now largely a thing of the past so we have to learn to live with what mother nature gives us and find the most effective way of controlling it. See more articles in our blog section.
Diagnosing & Treating Lawn Disease
Lawn Disease occurs when the lawn sward or root structure becomes affected by fungus pathogens which cause deterioration to the grass plant. There are many types of lawn disease but the most common in UK lawns are Red Thread, Fusarium, Snow Mould, Fairy Rings and Dry Patch.
Crown Rust
Crown Rust thrives in conditions which are warm (20 degrees C +) and humid, and the infection is carried from plant to plant by windborne spores. Crown Rust is characterised by small orange, powdery pustules, on both sides of the leaf.
Dollar Spot
Dollar spot is another lawn disease caused by fungus and causes small, silver dollar-sized patches of brown-yellow grass (hence the name).
Controlling Lawn Fungi
Mushrooms and Toadstools appearing in lawns are common and are often an indicator of healthy soil. They are not harmful to the lawn but, for many people who strive to have an attractive lawn, they are an unwanted guest.
Snow Mould
Seasonal Problems: Recovering from Snow Mould – A legacy of the long cold winter
Dry Patch
Dry Patch is a soil condition which allows mycelium fungus to develop under the surface of the lawn when the soil becomes hydrophobic.
Red Thread
Red Thread is the most common lawn fungal disease in the UK and at some point it is highly likely that your lawn will suffer from it at some degree, even though it might not be enough for you to notice.
Fusarium Patch
Fusarium, or Fusarium Patch, is a Mycelium Fungus which is often described as the bane of Greenkeepers.
Fairy Rings
Fairy Rings are symptomatic of fungal disease and can cause rings of dark green turf or result in rings of mushrooms cropping up in Summer and Autumn.