Pests and Problems
RED THREAD
What causes Red Thread Disease?
Red Thread, causes red/pinkish threads to appear on the lawn. These threads are caused by a fungus - "Laetisaria fuciformis" and they grow on infected blades of grass. The threads can extend to around an inch past the height of the grass. Red thread does not always kill off the grass, although once infected a blade of grass can be killed off in a couple of days. The common seasons for this disease are Spring and Autumn, when temperatures are around 16 - 24 oC. when it is suitable for the growth and dispersal of the fungus.
To treat red thread disease
You need to use a fungicide that contains benomyl or carbendazim. Always double check and precisely follow the manufacturers instructions when using any pesticide.
To prevent the onset of Red Thread
Lawns that are lacking Nitrogen are most susceptible to red thread. Feed the lawns when necessary.
Ensure the lawn is adequately drained to prevent high moisture levels that fungi will thrive on.
TOADSTOOLS
Toadstools are the fruiting bodies of the class of funghi known as "Basidiomycetes". There are over 13,000 species of this class of fungus. The vegetative part of the fungus lives below the ground, feeding on dead plant material and speeding the process of its decay. This breaking down of dead material, occurs throughout nature and allows the release of nutrients to feed living organisms. When the ideal conditions occur, the fungus reproduces by producing spores in the toadstools. These are, of course, above the surface of the ground and allow wind dispersal of the spores.
Why do they grow?
When the soil is being prepared for the new turf to be laid, buried organic debris are distributed and brought up to the surface. The spores are triggered when the conditions are ideal i.e. mild and wet causing a flush of toadstools. When the supply of nutrient in the turf is used up and fungus dies out, no more toadstools are produced. Toadstools consist mainly of water, therefore soon shrivel up and disappear when brushed with a stiff brush or removed with mowing the lawn.
In our experiance small brown toadstools can not do much harm and should not re-occur in other years.
LEATHER JACKETS
Leatherjackets are the larval stage of the crane fly or commonly known daddy-long-legs. Leather jackets larvae are about 1" long, greyish black in colour, legless and with no distinct head. In summer Leather jackets pupate. In August they start to lay eggs, re-infesting lawns. Within two weeks eggs hatch. The young start to feed, continuing throughout winter, ready to gorge on grass roots in spring.
First signs of Leather jackets are, Grass growth slows and yellow patches appear. Grass is easily pulled up, with little or no root growth. Birds especially starlings are always on the lawn pecking for grubs.
There is no chemical available to the general public for erradication of these pests, the only options you have are:
- Contact a lawn maintenance company.
- Find a large watering can, add a couple of squirts of washing up liquid, apply to the lawn to saturate, cover the lawn with black plastic and hold down with bricks and leave over night. The leather jackets should come to the surface so in the morning remove the sheets, sweep up the grubs and feed the local birds on the bird table.
Hopefully this will help.
