Fairy ring

Symptoms

Arcs or complete rings, from under a metre to many metres across, of dark-green, fast-growing grass, often with a band of dead or thinned turf just inside, and small tan mushrooms appearing after rain. In dry weather the ring zone becomes hydrophobic (water-repellent) so the grass there wilts and browns even when surrounding turf is green; a mushroom smell and white fungal threads are found in the thatch and soil.

Plants affected

• Bermuda grass
• Creeping bent
• Smooth meadow-grass (Kentucky bluegrass)
• St. Augustine grass
• zoysia grass
• kikuyu grass
• Common bent
• centipede grass
• seashore paspalum
• Red fescue
• Sheep's fescue

Common questions

How do I recognise Fairy ring on Bermuda grass?

Arcs or complete rings, from under a metre to many metres across, of dark-green, fast-growing grass, often with a band of dead or thinned turf just inside, and small tan mushrooms appearing after rain. In dry weather the ring zone becomes hydrophobic (water-repellent) so the grass there wilts and browns even when surrounding turf is green; a mushroom smell and white fungal threads are found in the thatch and soil.

Do I have to report Fairy ring?

No. Fairy ring is not a notifiable organism, so there is nothing to report to an authority. Treat it as a normal garden problem.

How is Fairy ring treated?

Mainly with biological and cultural measures — removing affected material, changing the conditions that favour it, and treating with agents approved in your country. The exact steps and their timing depend on the plant, the season and where you live: Dr. Phyto works them out in a free diagnosis.