TechNotes Tips - 05.24.01

What a difference a week makes. Cool wet weather has settled into the Midwest and Eastern United States. Reported outbreaks of melting-out and red thread are associated with the change in weather.

Melting-out is primarily attacking Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescue. The symptoms are an overall blighting and thinning of the turf. The lesions on the leaves appear as a bleached-out center with a purplish border. The best cultural control for melting-out is to use resistant cultivars. Normally, fungicides are not used in a lawn situation to treat this disease. However, if the disease is a reoccurring problem or susceptible cultivars are present, an early fungicide treatment would be warranted. For more information on the description and control of this disease see: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/dp_hfrr/extensn/problems/leafspot.htm

Red thread can cause damage to cool season turfgrasses, especially perennial ryegrass under wet cool weather. A pink mycelia mass from the fungus is often found around the leaves or in the thatch.