Turf Diseases

Lawns, like all living things can suffer from disease. Most of these diseases are caused by an imbalance or reaction in the fungi population normally found in turf.
Each turf disease, and there are many, develops under different conditions. Some diseases develop in the spring, some in the summer, and others in the winter months. Fortunately, diseases that can kill your turf are fairly rare, and those that are more common are not very damaging.

The best defense against disease development is to select those grass varieties with the greatest disease resistance. Taking good care of your turf will also minimise the chances of disease.  Well managed turf will not only develop less disease, but it can recover from disease faster. While diseases in turf are not common, they are natural and will occasionally develop. The first and most important step to take is to identify which disease is attacking your turf.

Fine-leaved grasses can be prone to a few common diseases if they are not growing strongly ­ but early treatment can prevent long-term damage. Other lawn problems may be caused by the nature of the site or by algae, moss or lichen. Always consider treating the cause of such problems, such as drainage, removing fallen leaves, fertilizing correctly before using chemicals.