As the days grow hotter and drier, it’s only a matter of time before turf diseases come knocking. That’s why you need a preventative fungicide program to stay out ahead of them.
Identify the Problem
Whether you’re anticipating disease issues for the first time or have encountered them in the past, there are three major potential culprits that lead to disease. First of all, your soil fertility could be off, which will weaken your turfgrass. Secondly, you may need to reevaluate the turfgrass varieties you’re using. Lastly, your preventative fungicide selection may need to be reevaluated.
The most important thing to do right off the bat is soil testing in the spring or fall. If your fertility is off, the field lacks the strength it needs to combat diseases. Soil Solver will tell you exactly what nutrient deficiencies your turf is facing, and results are available fast, allowing you to make targeted fertilizer applications to increase plant health.
If your fertility looks good, it could be your seed selection. For instance, Kentucky bluegrass is less susceptible to some diseases, while ryegrass is more susceptible to disease in general. So, if you’ve done a lot of overseeding with ryegrass over the years and are seeing disease symptoms, it may be time to consider the newer bluegrass cultivars instead, such as HGT by Barenbrug or 365 by Mountain View.
Dealing With Disease
When I build out a fungicide program in the Midwest, there are two main types of diseases I consider. The first is anything with the name ‘patch’ in it. The second is dollar spot, which is the most common turf disease.
Once you’ve honed in on which diseases you’re likely to encounter, you’ll need to have a better grasp of the chemistries that will control them. There are two types of fungicides: contact and systemic. Contact fungicides attack disease on the plant surface, while systemics work by being absorbed by the plant. Many newer products combine both modes of action, which can improve efficacy and rotation flexibility across FRAC codes.
A product containing chlorothalonil, such as CLT 720 FL, is an excellent contact option for my region, while PPZ 143 MC provides both a good systemic preventative and an excellent cleanup post-disease. You can also use a combination product such as Pillar G.
These tips will give you a great start, but remember that your ATS rep will be able to share advice and products tailored to your specific region and field. Reach out to them today to build out your fungicide strategy as we enter the summer season.
