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Seeing Pink In Your Lawn? It’s Likely Red Thread Disease

Seeing spots?

Are they pink?

And fuzzy?

No, you’re not crazy; you have Red Thread Disease. (Well, your lawn does.)

Red Thread Disease is a fungal disease that affects turfgrass during wet or cool weather. You’ll also see it pop up right after periods of heavy rainfall.

While that cotton-candy look in your lawn might be interesting, you’re probably wondering how to get rid of it.

Is My Lawn Done For?

Great news! Red Thread disease will not kill your lawn and the consequences of the fungus are purely aesthetic. However, it is contagious and will spread by mowing or transferring grass clippings to healthy areas of your lawn.

If you’ve caught a case of the Red, you have a couple of options:

  1. Do nothing. Thankfully, your turf will recover on its own with time. It’ll just be ugly and patchy until then.
  2. Have a turf specialist at Weller Brothers inspect your lawn. There may be issues that necessitate a fungicide treatment to reduce the severity of the disease and promote rapid turf recovery. We’ll have your lawn looking great again in no time!

How Can I Prevent Red Thread Disease?

We’re so glad you asked!

There are several cultural practices you can improve or implement to prevent future visits from this fuzzy fungus friend:

  • Promote good air circulation with regular mowing, trimming edges, aeration, and dethatching
  • Always mow your lawn at an appropriate height
  • Water deeply, but less frequently to avoid a constantly damp environment 

Weller Brothers Is Here to Help

We are your turf experts in Rochester, MN, and Sioux Falls, SD. If you’re unsure how to tackle the Red Thread Disease in your lawn, we’d be happy to provide a recommendation and discuss treatment options if necessary.