‘Sweaty’ Weather brings Red Thread Alert

Warm temperatures and some heavy, thundery showers over the past few days have meant that our eagle-eyed lawn experts are spotting Red Thread on some customers’ lawns.

Red Thread is the most common disease encountered on domestic lawns. It is a soil-borne fungus, Laetisaria fuciformis, and the visible signs above ground are the fruiting body of the disease. It can occur at any time of the year but typically symptoms are most visible during humid, damp conditions.

Brown patches appear on affected lawns, sometimes with a red tinge, which then become lighter. On close inspection, very fine red threads can be seen on the leaves, which give the disease its name. This is the early stage of the disease; once it matures it produces pink ‘candy floss’ type clumps that will produce spores. These can be spread by shoes, lawn mowers, water and other items moved around the grass. The types of grass which are most affected by Red Thread are fine-bladed leaf species such as fescues and bentgrass, but all grass species can be affected.

Newly laid turf? Be on red alert!
One of reasons why it develops can be as a result of nutrient deficiency, especially when homeowners have laid new turf. These lawns tend to have a higher proportion of fine-leaved grasses in them, and being watered regularly, the grass becomes deficient of nutrients.

Prevention is better than cure
The good news is that Red Thread does not kill the grass as it does not affect the roots, and the patches recover if the problem is identified and appropriate action taken. Our turf professionals have identified and treated Red Thread on golf courses and sports pitches, and they know that prevention is better than cure.

If you think Red Thread might be a problem in your lawn contact Ian Stephens, your local Lawn Master, today and arrange your free lawn analysis.

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