"Fairy Ring" In The Lawn

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29221, 3 June 1960, Page 7

"Fairy Ring" In The Lawn

One trouble that will be very apparent juat .now will be “Fairy Ring.” “Marasmius oreade.” Thia should not be confused with an attack of grub; indeed, its evidences are quite distinct In fairy ring of whatever size there is always a centre plot of healthy green grass. If the trouble is « long standing this centre will be of coarser grass than the surrounding lawn, since the finer grasses are killed out Contrary to the evidence of grub the patch of attacked grai» does not peel off. but although brown and dead-looking it manifests a number of small slender-stemmed toadstools. These spread the complaint for another year, as well as it being spread from the underground < active mycelium. The organism is a true fungus and its growths ramify and feed upon the nourishment in the soil at the base of the roots of the grass, excluding air and moisture. It feeds partly upon the roots of the grasses and partly on the humus content Each year it encroaches on a little more soil, thus making the ring larger and larger, hence any treatment must be given to the outer circle or ring. The remedy is three applications of sulphate of iron. The first application is put on at the rate of one .'pound of sulphate of iron to one and a half fiulons of water. The other two applications, at inter*-' vals of 14 days, should be put on at dne pound to three gallons of water. The water should, of

course, be cold. It is necessary that the ground be thoroughly soaked first, and if rain has not fallen, then ft must be flooded. In old lawns where the troubieM of long standing the ground will hftVQ Imxbm io MmMted wltii fungi that it to water. This must be remedied by using a fork and easing up the ground. It is also important to get well into the ground just outside where the ring 1| apparent