Lawn insects & diseases - Knowledgebase Question

Litchfield, Ne
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Question by mmackin1
June 18, 2009
Is Spectracide Triazicide effective for treating for grubs and sod webworm? I applied this product a few weeks ago but the lawn is still showing brown spots. How long should it take to recover if it is effective. Also, what is the cause and recommended treatment for red thread?


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Answer from NGA
June 18, 2009
According to the label, Spectracide Triazicide controls sod webworms and grubs so the application you made has probably done its job. When grubs feed on the roots of turfgrass they can kill it so the brown spots are probably dead grass. You can rake it out and resod or broadcast seeds to help your lawn green up again.

Red Thread, caused by the fungus Laetisaria fuciformis, is favored by cool, humid weather. Red Thread may become more common on lawns with fescue and ryegrass blends. Red Thread causes the lawn to have a bleached patchy appearance. Irregular areas, from several inches to several feet across, develop a whitish to pinkish color. Leaf blades and sheaths are attacked; at first they develop water-soaked or greasy green areas, then the affected parts dry out and become tan-colored. In wet weather the affected leaves are covered with a gelatinous pink fungus which then forms bright red threadlike strands near the tips of the leaves and from leaf to leaf.

The best temperatures for Red Thread development are 68-75 F. Red Thread can be quite severe on red fescue (a component of many shade-tolerant lawn grass mixtures) and may occasionally be severe on bluegrass.

Control with fungicides is not usually required for Red Thread. If soil nitrogen levels are low, fertilizing the lawn may help it to recover more rapidly. Deep watering and avoiding frequent light waterings, especially in late afternoon, may help to reduce damage. Collect grass clippings when the disease is active.


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