Microdohium nivale or Fusarium nivale commonly known as Fusarium patch disease is a common disease found in turf in the UK.
Appearance
Irregularly shaped orange-brown areas, sometimes with white or pink fluffy growth around the edge of the patch.
Cause
It can be very common in the Spring and Autumn, but rarely a problem in the Summer. Fusarium typically develops on turf when the weather cools and grass growth slows, heavy dews and still air also favour its spread. It can appear when we have mild/humid conditions and the grass leaves remain wet adding its development.
The spores of disease fungi are present everywhere and may attack a lawn if environmental factors are right for their growth.
It initially attacks the exterior cells of the grass plant and as older plants growth contains more lignin it is less vulnerable to Fusarium, therefore young growth is more susceptible.
The disease is usually not very harmful and usually causes no permanent damage, as it does not affect the root system of the grass, but it can be unsightly.
Treatment & Recovery
If you find the disease in your turf you want the lawn to dry. The fungus requires surface moisture to infect the leaves, so improve general airflow over the lawn by pruning back overhanging trees or shrubs, daily removal of leaf fall and ensure that the lawn dries rapidly after heavy dews in the morning with a switch (a long, pliable rod) or bamboo cane. Regularly mow to avoid your grass getting too long. This will enable it to dry out quickly.
Because Fusarium can survive within the thatch layer, it is good cultural practice to minimise this layer through aeration. This can be done by a combination of scarifying, spiking and hollow- or solid-tining. Monitor thatch levels and aerate to achieve desired levels of oxygen within the sward. Good drainage will help facilitate the flow of moisture away from the surface. Regular top-dressing can help dilute existing thatch levels however, heavy applications of top dressing are to be avoided as this can engender stress which can lead to an outbreak of Fusarium.
DO NOT FEED your lawn with high nitrogen feed, use an iron based autumn fertiliser like our Green & Black fertisilier.
The turf should recover as the grass is actively growing.
Further Advice
Please click on the following links for further information in the form of factsheets produced by the RHS and the Turf Grass Growers Association, which we are members of.
These should help explain in detail what is happening to the lawn and why, but also what you can do to prevent any further deterioration and aid its recovery.
https://turfgrass.co.uk/2020/09/30/brown-or-orange-patches-in-your-lawn/
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=563
Should following the above advice does not resolve the problem, then treatment with a fungicide may be required which can be applied by a professional contractor who holds a spraying licence..
Please note that all our turf fields are treated with a biocide to combat this problem if it occurs and whilst this will kill it off, it can reform again after treatment if the weather conditions continue to provide an ideal environment for its growth, as the spores lie dormant in soil naturally. We do then treat with Iron if deemed prudent.
If you find that the affected turf does not recover during the growing season, then we will be happy to assist with overseeding advice to aid repair or of course you could purchase some replacement rolls.
