Message Board - Turf Products: Damp weather will bring lawn disease

Like everyone else I have been hoping for lots of rain and heavy frosts. I'm worried that the mild damp weather is going to kick-start yet more disease on my turf, namely Fusarium.

The scars of the last bout of fuz are still there, as the lawns haven't been growing enough to fill in the patches.

I don't like to use chemicals if I can help it, but I may have to, unless someone has any other suggestions for preventing Fusarium.

Thank you kindly,

Worzel G

Keep your turf as dry as possible and that will limit the spread of Fusarium. This is easily achieved by sweeping off the morning dew, so that the leaves stay as dry as can be. It will also get rid of any worm casts on the surface too. Fusarium needs it to be warm and wet to spread, so by cutting out the wet part you reduce its chance of spreading.

Another consideration is the use of a fungicide to kill the fusarium that you have got, which will also stop it spreading any further. Even if you don't have any active fusarium in your turf at the moment, it is likely that you still have active spores that will come alive as soon as the conditions are right for it.