Turf Diseases

Anthracnose typically infects turfgrass, particulary Wintergrass during warm weather when the turfgrass canopy is wet and or humid.

The symptoms of Brown Patch can vary depending on the grass cultivar, climatic and atmospheric conditions, soil and intensity of the turfgrass management. Infestation is more severe when the turf is cut to a height less than the optimum for the turfgrass being grown.

Dollar Spot causes sunken, circular patches that measure up to 5 cm in diameter on golf greens and several inches on higher mown turf.

Curvularia is mostly secondary disease after primary pathogens such as Spring Dead Spot and Helminthosporium, have infected turfgrass.

The term 'Fairy Ring' is used to describe a number of turfgrass diseases where soil-borne fungi cause certain symptoms to develop on the surface of the sward. Fairy Rings are caused by the activity of many fungi classified as basidiomycetes

Microdochium Patch can be a devastating disease on fine turf surfaces as the patches may be many inches in diameter and adversely affect the playing surface as well as its aesthetic value.

The symptoms of Grey Leaf Spot vary depending on the grass cultivar. On St. Augustine grass, grey leaf spot first appears as small, brown spots on the leaves and stems. The spots quickly enlarge to approximately 0.5 cm in length and become bluish-grey in colour and oval or elongated in shape

Large patch develops on warm-season grasses. Fairways - treat in May & early spring!

Leaf Spot (melting-out) causes purplish-brown to black spots with tan centers on the leaf blade and sheath. The lower leaves of the infected plants become shriveled and blighted.

Mole Crickets burrow in soil instead of living above ground like other crickets. Mole crickets have front legs that are adapted to burrowing and lack the jumping hind legs that are characteristic of some crickets and grasshoppers.

Pythium Root Rot is common on highly maintained turf, such as golf course greens. Although symptoms of Pythium root rot are typically non-distinctive, this disease can appear as yellow, irregularly shaped patches.

Necrotic Ring Spot first appears as small light green spots and progresses to thinned, circular patches that are yellow to light-green in colour and approximately 8 to 40 cm in diameter.

The disease first appears on the leaves as individual tufts of fine, white mycelium. The tufts enlarge and coalesce, causing the leaves to have a greyish-white or powdery appearance.

Pythium Blight appears suddenly during hot, humid weather. The disease can spread very rapidly to cause widespread scorching of the leaves.

Red Thread causes patches that are reddish-brown in colour and 2.5 to 10 cm in diameter up to 0.5 m.

Take-All Patch symptoms begin as a slight reddening or bronzing of bentgrass usually in a ring during summer months.

Rust diseases cause light yellow flecks initially on the leaf blades and sheaths. The flecks enlarge, elongate, and turn yellow in colour.

Infected Bermudagrass and Kikuyugrass shows disease symptoms as it emerges from winter dormancy.

Summer Patch appears as circular or irregularly shaped patches that measure from several inches to several feet in width. Initially, patches appear as slowgrowing thinned or wilted turfgrass. Mature patches are brownish-yellow to straw-coloured and can coalesce as they increase in size.

Waitea patch is an emerging problem on annual bluegrass.

White Grubs live in the root systems of plants and may cause severe damage over a short period.