Introduction
You’re likely proud of your lawn, and take a lot of care in maintaining it – after all, it’s the social hub of the garden, and where you can get some of your best relaxation done! All that hard work can’t be for nothing – the lawn is for everyone to enjoy, family, friends, and pets alike!
If you’ve started to notice patches of dead grass on your lawn, one of the causes could be something called “red thread”. It’s quite a common problem, but one that could be causing you some worry if you have it. There’s no need to worry , though – here’s a guide to what red thread is, its symptoms, and how you can take care of it and repair your lawn.
What Is Red Thread?
Red thread is a fairly common disease in UK lawns. It’s most common for it to occur towards the end of summer and the start of autumn, but it can develop at any time of the year. It can cause unsightly yellowed patches, and likes to spread. As it progresses it can leave you with Red coloured needle-like leaves (hence the name!).
It will turn your lawn from a pristine green carpet into a messy green, yellow, and brown patchwork – not the look you’re going for! It’s unlikely to kill your lawn completely, but if left untreated will leave it in a state you won’t be happy with.
Red thread is actually caused by Laetisaria fuciformis, a common type of fungus. The fungus interleaves itself with the grass, wrapping itself around it and taking over. It is called “red thread” because of the red threads that manifest in the grass where it is infected with the fungus.
Red thread can survive in the soil and on leaf debris in the garden for two years, and can be spread through the air, or through contact – such as unknowingly walking it through your lawn on your shoes. It’s more of a problem during wet times, and can be washed deeper into the soil through heavy rain.
The affected area will yellow and die in time, leaving a patch in the lawn. This is obviously undesirable! It doesn’t affect the roots of your grass, but it has a noticeable effect on the surface. Therefore, red thread, while probably not going to kill your lawn, can certainly make a mess of it – so it’s best to treat it before it can do too much damage.
Symptoms Of Red Thread
If you’re concerned that you may have red thread in your lawn, then read on to find out the symptoms of the disease.
Red thread most noticeably manifests itself in patches in your lawn with reddish tinges. As the infection develops, these patches will change in colour, becoming yellowish-brown. These patches will spread, and further areas of your lawn can become infected by the fungus.
If you have red thread, it’s possible to see the fungal growth with the naked eye or a magnifying glass. The red threads that give the disease its name are pink-red threads called stromata – and these can lay dormant for up to two years before becoming an active problem.
What Causes Red Thread?
Red thread disease is caused by the fungus Laetisaria fuciformis, which lays dormant in soil, and can also grow on leaf debris. In the right circumstances – the correct temperature and moisture – the fungus can become active and start to grow on your lawn.
Laetisaria fuciformis seems to thrive at temperatures in between 12 and 25 degrees Celsius. It also does best in nice, moist environments – which we often get a lot of!
If your lawn isn’t getting the right amount of nourishment that it needs, then it can be more at risk from red thread. However, that doesn’t mean that undernourishment is the sole reason – nor does it mean that a well nourished lawn can’t get red thread!
How Can I Cure Red Thread?
Red thread can actually clear up by itself – but it’s good to know what steps you can take to remedy it too!
As red thread disease is more of a problem for undernourished lawns, one way to help treat the disease is to feed the lawn well. If you feed your grass well, it can actually grow and outpace the damage done by the fungus. This should help the patches to disappear, as the grass grows and takes root more quickly than the disease can damage it.
Using nitrogen-rich fertiliser is a good way to treat red thread and nourish your lawn. Nitrogen can also be applied directly to the affected area as sulphate of ammonia – but this shouldn’t be done after August, as this can help create good conditions for snow mould to grow.
Home gardeners can also use a fungicide to treat the disease. The only fungicide permitted for use in the UK is trifloxystrobin. A good well known product is called Provanto which can be found online in many places including Amazon, eBay and in many garden centres. You can use this at any time of the year, unless the ground is frozen, or there is a drought. As it’s possible for fungus to develop a resistance to the fungicide, it’s not recommended that it be applied any more often than twice a year.
There is an alternative now available called Turfsolv. It’s completely organic and non-toxic. It works to help strengthen the plant so that it can fight off lawn diseases far easier. Turfsolv is something you should apply monthly all year round as sit can also help fight off grubs that sometimes attack lawns at different times of the year. You can find out more about this product over on the Lawnright website. The owner Shaun actually uses it himself on his customers’ lawns.
Professional lawn maintenance companies can also offer treatment courses for your lawn if infected with red thread.
How Can I Prevent Red Thread?
As red thread can be a problem for undernourished lawns, you should keep your lawn well fed to help prevent any possible outbreak. Without sufficient nitrogen, the fungus is able to get a hold of your lawn. So, use a nitrogen-rich fertiliser to keep your lawn in tip-top condition.
Scarifying and aerating your lawn at least once a year can really help prevent red thread too. These help create better drainage conditions, which prevents buildup of the fungus.
Trimming trees and bushes around your lawn to enable better ventilation of your grass is also a good idea. If moisture is able to evaporate from your lawn with ease, then conditions are worse for the fungus to grow.
Conclusion
Red thread is certainly an annoyance, but it’s not the end of your lawn. Treated promptly, your lawn will recover from it. Of course, prevention is better than a cure, so it’s important to do whatever you can do to prevent the build up of the fungus in your lawn!
Hopefully this article has taught you about red thread, and how you can deal with and prevent the problem!
