Fairy Ring Fungus
Fairy rings show up as patches, rings, or arcs in the lawn, starting small (a foot or less across) and expanding year over year, sometimes reaching impressive size in older turf. The fungi responsible aren't infecting the grass directly. They're changing the soil environment around it, and that's what damages or kills the turf above.
3 Types of Fair Ring
-
Type I Fairy Ring causes dead patches, rings, or arcs from hydrophobic, water repellent soil and thatch. Most common in hot, dry summer weather.
-
Type II Fairy Ring produces fast growing, dark green rings or arcs from a burst of nutrients released as the fungus breaks down organic matter. Most noticeable in already nutrient deficient turf.
-
Type III Fairy Ring simply produces mushrooms or puffballs in a ring or arc, usually after extended wet weather.
Learn More About Fairy Ring
-
Fairy Ring fungi often live on buried organic material such as old tree roots, stumps, or construction lumber, along with a heavy thatch layer.
Even the turf itself produces enough organic matter over time to sustain some of these fungi on its own. Spores spread by wind, water, and lawn equipment.
-
Our Fungal Agronomic Program is the first line of defense and offers a layer of preventative control. However, since fungicide alone can’t change the underlying soil conditions caused fairy ring additional interventions are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Alongside preventative fungicides, we recommend Liquid Aeration, to improving water, air, and nutrient movement into the soil directly addresses the hydrophobic soil damage caused by fairy ring.
Another important aspect to management of any fungal disease is adhearing to proper watering practices. You can follow our FREE Irrigation Programming Guide or have our professional staff evaluate and set a custome program for your lawn with our Irrigaition Optimization service. -
Remove large buried debris such as stumps or old lumber before laying new sod or seed, if you're aware of it on the property.
Dethatch: Keep thatch in check with regular dethatching.
Topdress the damaged areas to quickly return healthy organic matter to the damaged areas.
Address Drainage issues.
Another important aspect to management of any fungal disease is adhearing to proper watering practices.
Start by evaluating your systems functionality.
Follow our FREE Irrigation Programming Guide to ensure you’re always wating the right amount at the correct times.
-
There's no universal quick fix. Even aggressive measures like tilling or removing infested soil can help temporarily, but fairy ring often returns.
A steady, combined approach of cultural practices such as topdressing, preventative fungicide, organic fertility, and proper watering is the realistic path. It will take time, money, and diligence but Fair Ring can be overcome.
-
Expect several months for symptom suppression after treatments and a management protocol begins.
In severe, established cases, full resolution can take multiple growing seasons, so don't expect a single visit to solve it outright.