You Are Here: Management Updates 2000 Archive June 26, 2000

Date: June 26, 2000
Category: Diseases
Subject: Fusarium Patch, Take-All Patch, Basal-Rot Anthracnose, Red Thread

On golf courses, FUSARIUM PATCH/PINK SNOW MOLD continued to be a proble this week due to the unusually cool nights in areas that remained wet such as shaded areas or areas with poor air movement. This disease is an 11-month disease in New England and can continue to cause problems whenever cool, wet weather persists. Don't forget to contribute samples to the UMass Turf Disease Diagnostic Lab for the research collection. A research project is underway to better understand this disease and its management.

TAKE-ALL PATCH is also common in newly established bentgrass in wet areas on greens, collars and fairways. Besides the well-known cultural practice of reducing soil pH with ammonium sulfate, recent research at Rutgers suggests that Mn (added as manganese sulfate at 2 lbs/acre) can help where lab tests indicate low levels. ANTHRACNOSE BASAL ROT is present in some areas, but is not as widespread as expected given the frequent rainfall in recent weeks.

RED THREAD is by far the most widespread lawn disease. When conditions are wet and cool for so long, the standby recommendation of increasing nitrogen levels is not sufficient to control this disease. The grass is also growing very quickly, so the plants are often stressed when more than 1/3 of the blade is removed at the time of mowing unless the turf is mowed more than once a week. Although the disease is unsightly, it is primarily a foliar problem and should disappear on its own once the weather becomes warmer and drier.

- Submitted by: Dr. Gail Schumann