How to Identify & Treat Fairy Ring Lawn Disease
Mushrooms occur naturally in lawns across Texas, especially when we’ve had a spell of wet weather. This lawn disease is called a fairy ring, and many times, to get rid of this mushroom invasion, homeowners will just rake them up, knock them over, or plow over them with the lawnmower.
What Is Fairy Ring Lawn Disease?
Single mushrooms or even small clumps of them are common enough to see, but fairy rings are less common. Just as the name suggests, the mushrooms form the ring. The grass within the circle often takes on a deeper, more brilliant hue—before it unfortunately starts to thin and die. On occasion, fairy ring formations also occur where a tree used to stand. These mushrooms feed off decaying matter (like tree roots) that they find in the soil. If left alone, most mushrooms will eventually die of old age.
What Damage Does Fairy Ring Cause to a Lawn?
First, understand that fairy ring isn’t attacking the grass, it’s breaking down organic matter in the soil to survive. This breakdown naturally releases an excess of nitrogen in the grass, causing it to turn a darker green.
Sometimes, the mycelium (underground root-like structure of mushrooms) becomes so dense that water has difficulty flowing through the soil, and this in turn causes the grass inside the fairy ring to turn brown and die. Mycelium can also deplete the soil’s nutrients, leaving less for the grass to use. Several types of fungi are associated with fairy rings, which is bad news for your lawn.
What to Do if Fairy Ring Lawn Disease Is a Concern
You may first see the start of a fairy ring in the spring, as a patch of grass becomes darker in color and grows more quickly. And you’ll soon notice that mushrooms begin sprouting up around that patch.
Like other mushrooms, the fairy ring will eventually die when the decaying matter it lives on is gone. This means that you could just leave it alone and let nature take its course. However, that process could take quite a long time, and many Texas homeowners don’t want to look at those unsightly mushrooms for weeks or months.
How to Treat Fairy Ring Lawn Disease
Core lawn aeration can help treat fairy ring disease, allowing more water to penetrate the area. There are specialized products that licensed lawn care providers can buy to treat the fungus with multiple applications. We will also apply lawn fertilizer to help you return to a uniformly green, healthy lawn.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fairy Rings
When Are Fairy Rings Most Visible?
Fairy rings are most visible during late spring through fall (April-October) when turfgrass is actively growing and environmental conditions favor fungal activity. The dark green rings become particularly obvious in late spring (May-June).
Which North Texas Turfgrasses Are Affected By Fairy Ring?
Fairy ring affects all turfgrass species grown in North Texas. Unlike diseases that target specific grass types, fairy ring is non-discriminatory because the fungi live in the soil rather than attacking the grass directly.
Are the Mushrooms From Fairy Ring Harmful to My Family or Pets?
Most fairy ring mushrooms are not highly toxic, but they should never be consumed as positive identification is difficult. For safety, treat all lawn mushrooms as potentially harmful and prevent children and pets from eating them.
Get Help Treating Fairy Ring Lawn Disease Today
Give us a call for a comprehensive approach to dealing with fairy ring. We offer lawn disease control services that can decrease the symptoms of fairy ring and many other lawn diseases. Whether you live in Euless or elsewhere in the North Texas area, contact us for help today by calling (817) 684-4044 or requesting a free lawn care quote.
