Fairy Rings: There's nothing magical about them
by
Gabby Hyman, All About Lawns Columnist
For hundreds of years, superstitious Europeans thought fairy rings were caused by dancing leprechauns. Alas, fairy rings are actually caused by fungi that create halos of fast-growing, deep green grass that eventually turn brown and fill with mushrooms, leaving dead grass roots just below the soil line. More than 50 species of ring-shaped fungi have been identified as plaguing under-watered and under-fertilized lawns. Ring-causing fungi can sink as deep as four feet into the soil (though usually only about 20 inches), spreading a network of mycelium spores completely across your lawn.
The disease can kill off a lawn by producing hydrogen cyanide as a by-product and leaving waxy deposits in the soil, which interfere with water and feed absorption by the grass roots.
As decomposing soil matter releases nitrogen into the grass, the center of the fairy ring turns dark green. Then the mushrooms go to work. The fungus doesn't always create perfect rings, but you may find long ribbons of dark green grass.
Treating Fairy Rings in the GrassThere's no permanent cure for fairy rings, but you can bring the lawn fungus under control. Adequate watering and feeding in dry conditions may often show speedy relief. But, it may be time to call in your local lawn care service.
Aeration and deep irrigation combined with the application of wetting agents and a deep root feeder can help, and so can some nonselective herbicides. Once the wax deposits take deep rooting, it may be impossible for the herbicides to penetrate the soil deeply enough to affect the fungus. Then you'll really need to aerate.
About the Author
Gabby Hyman has created online strategies and written content for
Fortune 500 companies including eToys, GoTo.com, Siebel Systems,
Microsoft Encarta, Avaya, and Nissan UK.
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