Red Thread Control in Turf

Beware the threat of Red Thread, sometimes referred to as Red Thread Fungus or Red Thread Grass – which is very common during warm & wet conditions. A fungal disease that affects turf, grass & lawns - look out for a distinct pink tinge and random, red coloured blades of grass.

Red Thread disease is brought on by compacted soil, humid weather conditions, lack of airflow and a lack of suitable fertiliser to feed the turf. It can live for up to two years in soil and usually strikes the grass from May to October, although can occur in any month of the year.

Symptoms:

• Appearance of small pink coloured particles looking like candy floss, followed by thin strands growing like thread that are a pink/red

• Then eventually turning a light straw colour to almost bleached

• Patches can be any size and are irregular in shape

Red Thread Treatment:

We recommend an IPM (integrated pest management) approach – tackling the problem with a combination of methods:

• Use a preventative fungicide. If Red Thread is likely then spray the turf with Dedicate or Inter Tebloxy to prevent the disease taking hold.

• Aeration will help greatly to reduce compaction – either spiking or hollow-tining, early season or autumn.

• Early season scarification or raking to reduce thatch, which is a major incubator of disease. Have a dig in the grass sward, look out for a thick layer of dead grass and detritus at the base of the grass that can develop into a water repellent layer.

• At first sign of infection make use of a control fungicide to prevent it taking hold. Dedicate and Inter Tebloxy are effective early in cases of Red Thread.

• Spread a liquid or granular broad spectrum fertiliser to provide nutrition – especially nitrogen, to the grass. A granular fertiliser option such as Amvista G3 Spring & Summer and Amvista G5 are ideal. Amvista G6 offers a slow release option.

• Apply a liquid seaweed spray, such as Amvista L9, Phyter and Maxicrop No.4, at regular intervals during periods of high growth to provide turf nutrition, trace elements & anti-fungal properties.

• Clean all cutting tools and shoes to reduce the further spread of red thread lawn disease. Propellar is a suitable disinfectant for cleaning equipment

• Remove clippings after mowing

• Water deeply and infrequently and then only if conditions are dry

• Avoid watering in the evenings - but rather in the morning to avoid prolonged damp conditions

Image Rights for 'Red Thread Lawn Disease': Wikimedia Commons License - Torben von Elling

Products for Red Thread Treatment include: