What is Red Thread?
Red thread disease is a common problem in New Jersey lawns. This fungal disease not only causes an unsightly appearance due to the reddish-pink thread like strands on the grass blades, but it can also make your lawn more susceptible to other issues. Understanding red thread and knowing how to manage it is essential for keeping your lawn in good condition.
Environmental Conditions That Promote Red Thread Disease
Red Thread occurs during late spring and early summer, when grass is in full growth mode, air temperatures range from 65° to 75°F, and there is rainy or humid weather. It is one of the most common lawn diseases in NJ, because it attacks cool-season grasses, which make up the vast majority of lawns in the state. It’s a sign that the lawn is craving more nitrogen, as it’s more than likely used up any fertilizers or nutrients that have been applied.
Symptoms and Identification
Red Thread symptoms appear as circular or irregularly shaped patches of blighted turf, typically with a red or pink cast. The disease is usually restricted to the leaves, leaf sheaths, and stems of the turfgrass it is affecting. Normally, it’s just an eyesore, but in some extreme cases, it can kill portions of the lawn. Red Thread frequently occurs with or resembles other diseases, which are called Pink Patch and Snow Mold, as they have similar symptoms. All three diseases develop under the same environmental conditions, and control measures are similar for each.
How To Treat Red Thread Disease
When Red Thread is infecting a lawn, the addition of fertilizer with adequate nitrogen for good turf growth should resolve the problem in a matter of a few days to a week. In most cases, turf affected by Red Thread will recover within a few weeks on its own. But a close eye should be kept on it because in most situations, Red Thread is not sufficiently severe to warrant fungicide treatment. However, occasionally a lawn may become severely blighted during wet weather. In such cases, fungicide treatment will minimize symptoms.
Conclusion
Red thread can be an unsightly problem, but with the assistance of our fertilization program, it will naturally grow out on its own and rarely requires a fungicide treatment to cure it. If you have any questions about lawn diseases or problems you may be experiencing with your lawn, please reach out to us. We are always here to help.