Scientific name
Basidiomycota spp. (various basidiomycete fungi)
Common Names
Fairy Ring
Fairy Ring is a soil-borne fungal disease that affects all turfgrass species throughout Australia. The fungi feed on decaying organic matter beneath the soil surface, creating circular rings of dark green turf, mushrooms or puffballs, and, in severe cases, dry, dead patches caused by water-repellent (hydrophobic) soil. Fairy Ring is most common where buried timber, old tree roots, excessive thatch or organic matter are present, particularly during warm, moist conditions.
Similar Diseases
- Take-All Patch (Gaeumannomyces graminis var. avenae)
- Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia solani)
- Summer Patch (Magnaporthiopsis poae)
- Localised Dry Spot (LDS)
SCENARIOS AND SOLUTIONS
At the first signs of Fairy Ring: Apply ProForce Clean Sweep Trio Fungicide early and irrigate afterwards to move the fungicide into the rootzone where the disease is active.
In turf with hydrophobic (water-repellent) soil: Apply ProForce Clean Sweep Trio Fungicide with HydroForce Penetrant Wetting Agent to improve water infiltration and fungicide movement into affected soil.
On golf greens and sports fields with recurring Fairy Ring: Include ProForce Clean Sweep Trio Fungicide in a preventative fungicide program and repeat applications according to the product label.
Where excessive thatch or buried organic matter exists: Reduce thatch through aeration or scarifying and apply HydroForce Penetrant Wetting Agent to help relieve localised dry spot associated with Fairy Ring.
References
https://stratagreen.com.au/products/proforce-clean-sweep-trio-fungicide-5-litre
https://greenwayturfsolutions.com/products_rec/proforce-clean-sweep-trio/
