Fairy Ring

Problem Solver
Disease
Fairy Ring

Fairy Ring

Causal Agent

Basidiomycetes in the order Agaricales are capable of causing fairy rings.

What is Fairy Ring Disease?

Fairy Ring is a disease in turf that can cause circular or arc-shaped rings of darker or faster-growing grass in moist turf. In some cases, a concentric ring of dead grass may develop inside the circle of lush grass.

What are the Symptoms of Fairy Ring Disease?

The symptoms of fairy ring will vary depending on the causal agent (i.e. fungal specie). Some general symptoms include:

Circular or arc-shaped rings of darker or faster-growing turf appear in moist turf.
A concentric ring of dead grass may develop inside the circle of lush grass.
The size of the rings can vary from a few centimetres to indefinitely large.
Activity in the turf stops when the individual rings come into contact with each other.
Mushrooms or toadstools may be produced in the outer ring of lush growth.
As mycelium grows the soil becomes hydrophobic.
In a mature Fairy Ring, the outer ring of lush grass may be missing, leaving an outer ring of plant death and an inner ring of green turf.

Fairy Ring

What causes Fairy Ring Disease?

There are over 50 different causal agents of fairy ring, however, the most common ones in Australia are; Lycoperdon; Marasmius; Tricholoma.

What turfgrasses are especially susceptible to Anthracnose diseases?

Fairy ring occurs in all turfgrasses.

When does Fairy Ring Disease occur?

The general conditions favouring fairy ring disease are:

Turf with a significant thatch layer.
Drier areas have significantly more Fairy Rings than higher rainfall areas.
Fairy Rings are more severe on light soils, which have low fertility and low moisture content.

What can I do to manage or control Fairy Ring Disease?

Management practices that can help control or reduce instances of Fairy RIng disease include:

Avoiding using root zone mixes with high levels of undecomposed organic materials.
Reducing thatch by vertical cutting.
Core aerifying
Irrigating deeply.
Using nitrogen and iron fertilisers to mask symptoms on some types of fairy ring.
Using soil wetting agents to help penetrate hydrophobic areas.