Red Thread in Lawns

As the temperature rises during the summer, so does the likelihood of encountering various lawn issues. One problem that plagues lawns in hot weather is the notorious Red Thread. GreenThumb Lawn Operatives are currently noticing an increase in Red Thread across lawns in the U.K.

We’re here to help you identify Red Thread and how to combat it with Lawn Disease Management.

What is Red Thread

Red Thread is a fungal disease that effects the grass when the lawn is undergoing stress, such as drought, high humidity, or poor cutting. It gets its name from the reddish-pink threads or strands that appear on the grass blades.

Red Thread appears as patches of damaged grass which often have a pink or red appearance. If it’s not addressed the lawn will look poor through the best part of the growing season.

pink, red tips on a patch of grass - Red Thread, grass disease pictures, lawn disease pictures, lawn fungus identification

How to identify it

  • Reddish/brown patches of decaying grass.
  • Fine red needles protruding from the blades of grass.
  • Pink/reddish candy-floss like particles around the base of the leaf.
  • Infected blades mixed with healthy blades giving the lawn a ragged appearance.

In severe cases, the grass may look scorched or yellow in irregularly shaped or circular patches from 5 to 50cm in diameter. The patches may be widely scattered or, if close together, may amalgamate into larger spots.

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How did my lawn get Red Thread?

Although high humidity is the main cause, several other factors can contribute to the development and spread of Red Thread.

  1. Moisture: Excessively wet or humid conditions create an ideal environment for the fungus to thrive.
  2. Low nutrition: Grass lacking in nutrition is more susceptible to red thread infection.
  3. Low Mowing Height: Cutting the grass too short weakens it and makes it more vulnerable to diseases.
  4. Poor Air Circulation: Lack of airflow and poor drainage can create a conducive environment for the growth of red thread.

How can GreenThumb help?

If Red Thread does occur, we can reduce the activity of it with a liquid tonic treatment. It’s best applied at the early stages of the outbreak and close to your next scheduled NutraGreen treatment date.

There are many other fungal diseases and disorders that are found on lawns throughout the U.K. Examples of these areLeaf spot, Fusarium, Snow Mould along with some disorders like Fairy Ring, Rust, Dollar Spot.