What are some causes of turf disease?
Turf disease is a broad term we use to describe damage caused by a wide host of fungal and bacterial pathogens. Generally speaking, disease outbreaks occur most in stressed turf. Turf stress can be caused from environmental factors out of our control such as temperature extremes, humidity, grass variety and existing soil profile. Proper maintenance practices can alleviate the outbreak of turf disease symptoms: • Excessive irrigation and/or inadequate irrigation can cause turf disease outbreaks. • Compacted soil. We recommend annual aeration to reduce soil compaction. • Excessive thatch. We recommend annual aeration to reduce thatch build-up. • Improper fertilization-both excessive and/or insufficient nitrogen will promote disease. • Dull mower blade. Dull mowers rip the turf-grass blades, which causes stress and creates an entry point for disease. • Excessive shade and reduced air flow. (Ideal for growing mushrooms.) • Necrotic Ring Spot. Disease pathogens are everywhere in all soils.
