Fairy ring disease is a very common lawn fungal disease in South Florida caused by an array of species of basidiomycete fungi, which includes mushrooms and shelf fungi. Fairy Ring disease affects literally all warm weather sod grasses, but Bermuda grass is much more susceptible to the fungi than St. Augustine sod grasses. Fairy ring disease is easily identifiable by the circular rings of mushrooms that seem to appear overnight on your Palm Beach County lawn or commercial property. Golf courses in South Florida are a popular target of fairy rings and give lawn crews a major headache. But there is no need to panic as fairy ring lawn disease rarely causes significant damage to residential lawns in Palm Beach County.
The best prevention for fairy rings is to maintain a healthy lawn with proper fertilization, irrigation and removing any excess buildup of thatch that may contribute to drainage issues. Aeration and testing of your soil can also be very beneficial if fairy rings are an ongoing problem. In order to properly grow, fairy rings need a supply of dead organic matter in the soil to feed on that can include old tree stumps. If the source of organic matter is not addressed, chances are fairy rings will return.
The fungi that causes fairy rings is usually spread by spores or infected soil, but also can travel to new lawns from infected lawn maintenance tools and equipment. Decontaminating lawn maintenance equipment after use on lawns with visible fairy rings can reduce this transference.
Some types of mushrooms in fairy rings including Chlorophyllum spp. are poisonous and need to be removed or destroyed if children or pets are present.
Will Fairy Ring Disease Go Away Without Treatment?
Yes! In most cases fairy ring disease will just disappear as the environmental conditions surrounding your lawn change.
Do Fungicides Work on Fairy Ring Disease?
Yes! Fairy ring disease is manageable with the use of the proper fungicides.
Why not leave your lawn fungus problems to a professional? Our highly trained pest control and fertilization technicians have been keeping the lawns of West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington, Jupiter and other Palm Beach County, Florida cities lush, green and fungus free for over twenty five years.
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