Red Thread Disease
What is Red Thread Disease?
Has your lawn got light brown looking patches appearing on it? If you look closely at the patches, you may see fine, pink strands on the grass blades. If so, this is a fungal disease called Laetisaria Fuciformis, or more commonly called Red Thread Disease.
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Laetisaria Fuciformis is a natural occuring pathogen in the soil.
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Occurs most common in humid climatic conditions. Usually in wet summers and Autumn.
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Fungus manifests itself as small, pinkish-red 'threads' that appear on grass blades.
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Whilst looking unsightly on managed lawns, no damage is done to the actual grass plant apart from some leaf die back.
Preventative Measures
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In times of hot, dry weather, avoid watering the lawn in the evening and water in the morning to avoid water sitting on the leaf overnight.
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Keep up with a Lawn Treatment plan to include Lawn Scarifying and Lawn Aeration to increase the grass's ability to withstand disease better.
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Keep your mowers blades sharp to stop the grass blade being ripped rather than cut, which can decrease disease resistance.
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Most of all, don't worry! If your lawn has symptoms, most other lawns will too.
Treatments
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Fungicides are best avoided as they only work on the fungus that is currently present on the leaf. The spores live in the soil all year round so would need repeat applications which is not healthy for the soil and wider environment.
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We recommend an application of Iron sulphate to dry the fungus out and stop it spreading further, followed by an application of a higher nitrogen feed to allow the grass to grow out the damaged blades.
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If left alone, the fungus will eventually disappear on it's own once the weather improves, so don't panic!