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Lawn Disease Quick Reference

P.J. Liesch, UW-Entomology (previously UW-Plant Pathology); Vijai Pandian, UW-Extension Brown County; and Jim Kerns, formerly of UW-Madison Plant Pathology
Revised:  1/2/2013
Item number:  XHT1212

1) Snow Molds
(Microdochium nivale and Typhula spp.)

Occurrence:  Early to late spring
Favorable Conditions:  Cold wet weather with periods of prolonged snow cover over unfrozen ground often leading to the most severe damage
Hosts:  Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass
Symptoms:  Circular, matted, gray to straw-colored patches ranging from a few inches to a foot or more in diameter
Management:  Remove leaf litter from lawns.  Mow lawns until dormant in the fall.  Avoid heavy fertilizer applications (greater than 0.5 lb. N/1,000 sq. ft.) late in the year.  Rake and lightly fertilize damaged areas in the spring to encourage recovery.  Reseed lawns as needed.

Snow mold
Snow mold

2) Necrotic Ring Spot
(Ophiosphaerella korrae)

Occurrence:  Spring, summer and fall
Favorable Conditions:  Cool (soil temperatures of 55 to 65oF) and wet conditions for infection, followed by heat and drought stress for symptom development; most severe when soil compaction limits rooting
Host:  Kentucky bluegrass
Symptoms:  Circular, straw-colored patches usually less than 12 inches in diameter; regrowth often occurring in the center of patches, creating a “frog-eye” appearance; most common in newly sodded lawns, but also occurring in seeded lawns
Management:  Reduce soil compaction and improve lawn drainage.  Maintain proper fertility.

Necrotic ring spot

3) Fairy Rings
(many mushroom-forming fungi)

Occurrence:  Anytime
Favorable conditions:  Warm, wet weather; significant thatch accumulation
Hosts:  All cool-season lawn grasses
Symptoms:  Type I:  a ring or arc (up to several feet in diameter) of lush, dark green grass bordered by a band of dead turf, with or without mushrooms; Type II:  a ring or arc of lush dark green grass with no band of dead turf, with or without mushrooms; Type III:  a ring or arc of mushrooms with no band of lush green turf or dead turf
Management:  Lightly fertilize and routinely core aerate lawns.

Fairy ring

4) Summer Patch
(Magnaporthe poae)

Occurrence:  Summer
Favorable conditions:  Hot, moist conditions; alkaline (i.e., high) soil and thatch pH
Hosts:  Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescues
Symptoms:  Ring-like patches of wilted turf up to 3 inches in diameter, similar to those of necrotic ring spot (see above), and with rings often merging into larger irregular patches
Management:  Avoid excessive watering during hot periods.  Core aerate to promote root growth and reduce compaction.  Use acidifying fertilizers to lower thatch pH to below 6.5.

Summer patch

5) Dollar Spot
(Sclerotinia homoeocarpa)

Occurrence:  Summer
Favorable conditions:  High humidity; low nitrogen fertility
Hosts:  Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescues
Symptoms:  Bleached patches ranging from a few inches to a foot in diameter, with leaf blades (inset) having bleached, hourglass-shaped areas
Management:  Water deeply and infrequently early in the morning to minimize prolonged periods of leaf wetness.  Apply nitrogen to alleviate symptoms.

Dollar spot

6) Red Thread
(Laetisaria fuciformis)

Occurrence:  Spring through fall
Favorable conditions:  Wet, cool conditions
Hosts:  Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescues
Symptoms:  Irregular beige patches ranging from a few inches to a few feet in diameter (oftentimes merging into irregular patterns) with red, thread-like filaments among the grass blades
Management:  Collect clippings when disease is active.  Maintain adequate nitrogen fertility.

Red thread

7) Rust
(Puccinia spp., Uromyces spp.)

Occurrence:  Summer and fall
Favorable conditions:  High humidity, low soil moisture, low nitrogen fertility, shade
Hosts:  Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass
Symptoms:  Reddish-brown, powdery areas (masses of fungal spores) that can discolor clothing and equipment
Management:  Maximize light and airflow in lawns by pruning and thinning surrounding landscape plants.  Water and lightly fertilize.

Rust

For more information, contact the University of Wisconsin Turf Diagnostic Lab at hockemeyer@wisc.edu.


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