Trent Turf Technical Information
As turf is a living product growing on a living soil with the ever changing weather conditions, things may not always be as straightforward as they seem. Problems can occur, but if so, do not despair, help may be available. We always want you to be delighted with the turf and products we supply, so if you are not completely satisfied, please let us know, and we may be able to assist.
Pets
We are often asked whether our turf is suitable for pets. While it is a very attractive grade, it is also extremely hard-wearing, making it ideal for domestic lawns. Allowing the lawn to establish before giving pets (and children) free rein is preferable, although this is often easier said than done! Newly laid turf is more prone to dog marking due to young roots at a shallow depth, although if marking is very bad, the issue could be soil acidity. Diluting urine patches with water will help, and regular feeding with our slow-release fertiliser will assist the lawn, making it better able to deal with the effect of the elements, disease, and urine!
Annual Meadow Grass (Poa Annua)
Poa Annua is an opportunist, and turf cannot be guaranteed to be free from it. As it typically occurs when turf is under-fertilised and over-mowed, the remedy is to fertilise your lawn regularly and maintain a cut height of around 30mm. If the problem persists, the answer may be to scarify and over-seed with a more vigorous grass, and this is something we can carry out if you wish.
Leather Jackets
These are the larvae of Crane Flies (Daddy Longlegs), the female of which is able to lay 300 eggs at any one time. Eggs are laid in late summer, and the larvae can live under turf for up to a year, steadily munching their way through the roots, and attracting predators which can also assist in destroying your lawn. Newly laid turf is particularly susceptible as the roots are easier to munch through. If you see a lot of Daddy Longlegs around, prevention is available in the form of Bayers Provado® (available from most good garden centres) and can be applied from mid August to October. Alternatively we can carry out treatment for you, please contact us for details.
Mushrooms & Toadstools
Mushrooms and toadstools will appear in warm, moist conditions, such as when newly laid turf is watered. They come from microscopic bacteria and fungi which are present in all soils, and which decompose the dead and dying tissue arising from damage to the roots when turf is harvested. When weather conditions are right, the fungus will then produce mushrooms and toadstools, which will in turn release spores that can continue to grow if there is sufficient dead material to feed on. Mushrooms and toadstools will not appear in cold conditions, and if decomposition is not complete before winter arrives, then more may appear the following year, although it is unlikely they will continue in subsequent years. The most common type is the Brown Hay Cap, which is usually only harmful if large numbers are eaten, although it is advisable to keep children and pets away from affected areas until they disappear, which will happen quite naturally within a few weeks. Alternatively, regularly mow affected areas or break the stems, which will allow the fungus to dry out and disappear. Although we normally recommend leaving newly laid turf for at least a month before mowing, if the mushrooms have appeared due to wet weather, then chances are the turf is established enough to mow. If in doubt, please give us a call.
Fairy Rings
Unlike the mushrooms and toadstools that can appear in newly laid turf, fairy rings are circles or arcs that are caused by a fungus already present in the soil in your garden. The turf provides a home in which the fungus can grow when conditions are right for it to do so.There are three types of fairy ring:
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Type 1 Rings of dead or stressed turf surrounded by lush green grass
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Type 2 Rings of dark, stimulated grass
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Type 3 Rings of mushrooms or toadstools
Fungicides are available to treat fairy rings, although this is best carried out by a professional gardener. There are however steps that can be taken to reduce the appearance of fairy rings:
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Fertilise the grass (avoiding the areas of over-stimulated growth)
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Aerate the lawn to allow water to penetrate the roots of the stressed turf
Brown Patches
These can be an indication of foliar fungus, which is common with extended periods of cool, wet weather. Some of these diseases are detailed below, but preventive and remedial measures include:
- Mow properly – long grass stays wet for a long time
- Fertilise properly – as some fungi attack when fertility is low while others attack when it is high, fertiliser needs to be applied just enough to support good growth
- Water turf & ensure adequate drainage
- When brown patches are present, do not mow when wet as this will spread the disease
Red Thread Disease
This disease is usually not harmful, so unlikely to cause permanent damage. As lack of nitrogen encourages red thread disease, it can be treated most effectively by feeding your lawn with a high nitrogen fertiliser, increasing fertility. Usually occurring during the growing season, it is characterised by irregularly shaped pale pink areas of turf with leaves often dying and matted together, and perhaps pink fluffy fungal growths or coral red needle-like undergrowths.
Fusarium Patch Disease
One of the most common diseases of turf in the UK, symptoms include irregularly shaped orange-brown areas of turf, sometimes with a white or pink fluffy fungal growth around the edge. It occurs in still, humid conditions when grass stays wet for most of the day, and in most cases, the diseased area will completely recover once the grass is actively growing again. This process is slower in autumn or winter because the turf is not growing fast enough to recover quickly. To prevent Fusarium, avoid damp, shady locations, and do not over-feed your lawn. Mow regularly to prevent the leaves from becoming too long, and well-structured, free-draining soil will help.
Rust
Generally yellow/orange fungal pustules, turning to brown in late summer, and a black powder late autumn as the disease prepares itself for winter. Rust will only infect turf which is actively growing, and is common in nitrogen deficient lawns, particularly those that have already been infected by a fungal disease such as Fusarium or Red Thread. In order to control Rust, the lawn needs to be properly cared for in terms of fertiliser, mowing and drainage.
While we cannot cover every potential disease here, it is worth bearing in mind that most are avoidable if the turf is well looked after. The following points should help give your lawn a fighting chance:
- Prepare the ground
- Ensure adequate drainage
- Fertilise prior to and after laying turf, and regularly thereafter
- Keep newly laid turf watered (but not saturated)
- Once established, maintain mowing height between 15mm & 35mm
- If necessary, change the environment (for example, if trees are creating too much shade, perhaps thin them out)
