How to Prevent and Treat Turf Diseases, looks at what we can do to break the disease pyramid, via options including cultural, chemical and good work practices.
I am not going to go too deep technically on this blog, as l am going to write from experience of trying to manage disease as a working groundsperson. It’s still an ongoing challenge, on our outfields where resources aren’t quite available.
Disease Pyramid
By this image you can see disease formation has three elements.
Host, which in our case is our millions of grass plants.
Environment, moist and mild being below 18-20c
Pathogen, can live on decaying material such as litter or thatch or enter the plant by a ripped leaf tissue and or a stressed grass plant. Infected plants can spread the disease by spores being transported by wind, machinery or by foot.
How can we try and Prevent Disease
By breaking the disease pyramid, by removing one element of the disease pyramid the whole pyramid collapses.
Host
· If we have grass plants we have a host, so this is less controllable.
· Some grasses are more susceptible to disease than others, poa (annual meadow grass) is more prone to disease. Look into more prone disease seed cultivars.
Environment
· Brushing off the dew, will break the disease triangle.
· Products that remove dew such as DewSmart (surfactants), can also assist in keeping a drier leaf.
· Aeration will assist in keeping the base of the grass plant dry.
· Reduce shaded areas, to increase air flow and increase light levels.
Pathogen
· Keep litter and thatch low via verticutting and scarification respectably.
· Brushing of the grass surface, collecting of the clippings.
· Prevention of disease entry, ensuring a clean cut
· Height of cut, not too long to ensure air can circulate around the base of the grass plant.
· Maintaining a strong and healthy, less stressed plant, by means of good nutrition in the form of appropriate fertilisation. Also the use of turf hardening products and stress prevention products like liquid seaweed.
· As a last result fungicide can prevent and kill fungi, which lead to disease outbreaks.
· Talk to your fertiliser sales representative about adding defence activators in your feeding programme, such as Fe, Mg and others.
My Experience
Identification of turf diseases
There are many turf diseases and here is a guide to assist you in identifying yours – https://www.syngentaturf.co.uk/download-turf-disease-identification-guide
My Personal Top Four Tips for Disease Prevention
· Manage Moisture levels, by regular removal of the surface dew and helping to keep the leaf upright.
· Turf hardeners and tonic, such as iron in moderation to maintain a plant which is healthy and low in stress.
· Keeping the plant fed, by fertilisation appropriate for the time of year to prevent flushes of growth which can lead to disease outbreaks.
· Height of cut, cut whenever the plant needs it i.e., something to cut. Cricket 18-22 mm will help keep airflow around the base. Football 25-35 mm a large range, due to levels of wear and standard of play.
Conclusion
For me the four bullet points above are going to be my aim for the coming disease windows, it will be a challenge but l can certainly improve on previous years. What is your experience or and top tips to the prevention and treatment of turf diseases.
Brian on behalf of the TurfCareBlog community.
If Red Thread, turf disease is your current concern take a look at this blog – https://turfcareblog.com/red-thread-turf-disease/
A Community Growing Together One Blog at a Time
