Irrigated lawn with fungus problem

Credit: Richard.Fisher

Q: We live in Princeton B.C. and have had a lot of rain and cooler temperatures this summer. We do not fertilize our lawn but it is irrigated. Today, I noticed there is a black fungus growing around the base of the shoots. It almost looks like someone has spread black topsoil over the lawn. It only appears where the grass is not sheltered by evergreens.

Do I need to worry or is it just the extra dampness this year?

This sounds like a disease problem, but it’s hard to tell without visual verification more information. I will assume this is a fungal disease on the lawn.

Good management practices will greatly reduce the incidents of diseases from occurring to lawns. Avoid overhead and water later in the day – after 8 p.m. – as opposed to watering in the morning to allow faster drying on the leaves. When watering, keep it infrequent but deep and thorough. The soil should be soaked to a depth of at least 15 cm. When grass is actively growing early in spring and fall, cut it shorter – to about 2.5 cm (one inch) verses 5 cm (2 inches) or more during hot summers.

Apply fertilizer according to the label instructions during the course of the season. Provide good air circulation around the lawn by removing unnecessary vegetation to allow excess moisture to evaporate.