Fairy ring Fungal Disease

Fairy Ring usually appears as circular or semi-circular rings in the lawn. The rings may be dark green, brown, thin, dead-looking, or lined with mushrooms.

Some Fairy Rings cause a flush of dark green turf because the fungi release nitrogen as organic matter breaks down. Others create dry, brown, or dead rings because the soil becomes water-repellent and the grass roots cannot get enough moisture.

Mushrooms may appear after rain or irrigation, but Fairy Ring can still be present even when mushrooms are not visible.

Fairy Ring develops when fungi grow through organic matter in the soil, thatch, old roots, buried wood, or decomposing plant material. As the fungi spread outward, they can form rings or arcs in the lawn.

The problem is often worse in sandy soils, dry areas, compacted lawns, lawns with excess thatch, or areas where water does not move evenly into the soil. Fairy Ring can persist for years if the underlying soil and organic matter conditions are not improved.

Prevent Fairy Ring by improving soil moisture, reducing thatch, and encouraging healthy root growth. Water deeply and evenly, aerate compacted soil, and remove excess thatch when needed.

Avoid letting the lawn become drought-stressed, and use wetting agents when soil becomes hydrophobic or water-repellent. Keeping the lawn healthy with proper mowing, fertilization, and irrigation can help reduce the visual impact of Fairy Ring.

Fairy Ring can be difficult to control because the fungi live in the soil and organic matter, not just on the grass blades. Start by improving water movement into the affected area. Core aeration, wetting agents, and deep watering can help break through dry, hydrophobic soil.

If Fairy Ring is severe or recurring, use a fungicide labeled for Fairy Ring and safe for your lawn type. Fungicide applications often work best when combined with aeration or wetting agents so the product can move into the root zone where the fungi are active.