This document discusses fairy ring prevention and management on golf course putting greens. It describes the different types of fairy ring symptoms and the fungi that cause them. It evaluates several fungicide options for curative and preventative control of fairy ring, including DMIs like Bayleton. Test results show Bayleton and other DMIs can effectively prevent fairy ring when applied in early spring at certain rates and soil temperatures. Further research is still needed to determine the best timing, rates, and number of applications for long-term preventative control of different fairy ring fungi species.

1. Fairy Ring Prevention and Management
in Golf Course Putting Greens
Lane Tredway and Lee Miller
Department of Plant Pathology
North Carolina State University

2. Symptoms Induced by Fairy Ring Fungi
Type I
• kills grass or badly damages it
Type II
• rings of dark green or quickly growing turf
Type III
• mushrooms produced in a ring pattern

3. Fairy ring fungi do not infect turf, they grow on thatch and soil.

4. Type II fairy ring symptom

5. Initial Type I fairy ring symptoms

6. Type I fairy ring symptom

7. Fairy ring fungi leave a hydrophobic coating on thatch and soil.

8. Fairy ring fungi leave a hydrophobic coating on thatch and soil.

9. Fairy ring fungi leave a hydrophobic coating on thatch and soil.

10. Type III fairy ring symptoms

11. Agaricus arvensis Hydnellum suaveolens Marasmius oreades
Agaricus campestris Hydnum compactum
Marasmius siccus
Agrocybe pediades Hygrocybe coccinea
Marasmius rotula
Hygrocybe psittacina
Bovista dermoxantha
Hygrocybe reae Marasmius urens
Bovista plumbea
Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca Melanoleuca melaleuca
Calocybe carnea
Lactarius insulsus Melanolueca grarmopodia
Calvatia cyathiformis
Lactarius piperatus
Nolanea staurospora
Camarophyllus pratensis
Lactarius torminosus
Campanella subdendrophora Panaeolina foenisecii
Lepista nuda
Chlorophyllum molybdites Panaeolus campanulatus
Lepista personata
Clarulinopsis corniculata Paxillus involutus
Lepista sordida
Clitocybe infundibuliformis Scleroderma verrucosum
Leucoagaricus naucinus
Clitocybe rivulosa Leucopaxillus giganteus Suillus grevillei
Collybia butryacea Lycoperdon marginatum Trechispora alnicola
Coprinus comatus Lycoperdon perlatum Tricholoma columbetta
Coprinus kubickae Lycoperdon pusillum Tricholoma panoeolum
Cyathus stercoreus Lycoperdon spp.
Tricholoma terreum
Dentinum repandum Macrolepiota procera
Vascellum curtisii
Hebeloma crustuliniforme Marasmius graminum
Vascellum pratense

12. Puffball species are most common on sand-based putting
greens in the United States.

13. Fungicides Labeled for Fairy Ring Control
• azoxystrobin (Heritage)
• flutolanil (ProStar)
• metconazole (Tourney)
• polyoxin D (Endorse)
• pyraclostrobin (Insignia)
• triadimefon (Bayleton)

14. Curative Control of Type II Fairy Rings
Prostar (4.5 oz)
Heritage (0.4 oz)
Endorse (4 oz)
Revolution (6 fl oz)
Prostar + Rev
Heritage + Rev
Endorse + Rev
Untreated
0 15 30 45 60 75 90
Fairy Ring Incidence (%)
Treatments applied 22 Jul and 19 Aug
Data collected 2 Sep
Fidanza and Bagwell, F&N Reports, 60:T024

15. DMIs for Fairy Ring Control: Background

16. DMIs for Fairy Ring Control: Background
• fairy ring activity observed during development of triadimefon

17. DMIs for Fairy Ring Control: Background
• fairy ring activity observed during development of triadimefon
• superintendents in Gulf Coast states have been using Bayleton
for preventative fairy ring control

18. DMIs for Fairy Ring Control: Background
• fairy ring activity observed during development of triadimefon
• superintendents in Gulf Coast states have been using Bayleton
for preventative fairy ring control
• Bayleton received 2(ee) label for fairy ring control in 17 states
in Feb. 2006

19. DMIs for Fairy Ring Control: Background
• fairy ring activity observed during development of triadimefon
• superintendents in Gulf Coast states have been using Bayleton
for preventative fairy ring control
• Bayleton received 2(ee) label for fairy ring control in 17 states
in Feb. 2006
• how do DMIs compare to other chemistries for preventative
control?

20. DMIs for Fairy Ring Control: Background
• fairy ring activity observed during development of triadimefon
• superintendents in Gulf Coast states have been using Bayleton
for preventative fairy ring control
• Bayleton received 2(ee) label for fairy ring control in 17 states
in Feb. 2006
• how do DMIs compare to other chemistries for preventative
control?
• do soil surfactants influence preventative control?

21. Prevention of fairy ring caused by Vascellum
pratense in creeping bentgrass (June 22, 2006)
4.0
Bayleton (2 oz)
3.5 Lynx (2 fl oz)
ProStar (2.2 oz)
Fairy Ring Severity (0 to 9)
3.0 Insignia (0.9 oz)
No Fungicide
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0
w/ Revolution w/o Revolution
All treatments applied twice in March and April
Treatments were watered in immediately with 0.25” of irrigation
Revolution applied at 6 fl oz/M

22. Prevention of fairy ring caused by Vascellum
pratense in creeping bentgrass (July 11, 2006)
9.0
Bayleton (2 oz)
Lynx (2 fl oz)
7.5 a
ProStar (2.2 oz)
Fairy Ring Severity (0 to 9)
Insignia (0.9 oz)
6.0 No Fungicide
ab
4.5 abc
a-d
3.0
b-e b-e
1.5 cde
e
e e
0
w/ Revolution w/o Revolution
All treatments applied twice in March and April
Treatments were watered in immediately with 0.25” of irrigation
Revolution applied at 6 fl oz/M

23. Untreated Control

24. Insignia + Revolution (0.9 + 6 oz) applied 3/22 and 4/19

25. Bayleton (2 oz) applied 3/22 and 4/19

26. Prevention of fairy ring caused by Vascellum
pratense in creeping bentgrass (July 11, 2006)
9.0
Bayleton (2 oz) a
Bayleton (1 oz)
7.5
Lynx (2 fl oz)
Fairy Ring Severity (0 to 9)
Lynx (1 fl oz)
6.0 Untreated a
4.5
3.0
bcd
1.5 e e e cd
e
d d
0
Jul 11 Jul 17
All treatments applied twice in March and April
Treatments were watered in immediately with 0.25” of irrigation
Revolution applied at 6 fl oz/M

27. Many questions remain...
• Are all fairy ring species sensitive to the DMIs?
• What is the optimal timing for preventative applications?
• Which application rate and number of applications will
provide season long control?

28. Preventative Control of Turfgrass Root Diseases
Application Timing is Based on Soil Temperature
✓ Spring Dead Spot: apply in fall when soil temperatures are
between 60°F and 80°F
✓ Summer Patch: inititate applications in spring when soil
temperatures are above 65°F
✓ Take-all Patch: apply in fall and spring when soil
temperatures are between 40°F and 60°F
✓ Fairy Ring: ??????

29. Rate and Timing of DMIs for Fairy Ring Prevention
Fungicide / Rate Soil temperature at initiation
• Bayleton - 1 oz/1000 ft2 (5-day average)
• Bayleton - 2 oz/1000 ft2 • 50°F
• Lynx - 1 fl oz/1000 ft2 • 55°F
• Lynx - 2 fl oz/1000 ft2 • 60°F
• 65°F
• 70°F
• 75°F
• USGA putting green established in 2004 with ‘A-1’ creeping
bentgrass
• all treatments watered-in immediately with 0.25” of irrigation
• Cascade soil surfactant (8 fl oz/1000 ft2) applied on 3/20, 5/2, and
7/25

30. Average 5-day average soil temperature (ºF)
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
3/5/07
3/11/07
3/17/07
3/23/07
3/29/07
4/4/07
4/10/07
4/16/07
4/22/07
4/28/07
5/4/07
5/10/07
5/16/07
5/22/07
5/28/07
6/3/07
6/9/07
6/15/07
6/21/07
6/27/07
7/3/07
Five-day Average Soil Temperature, 2007
7/9/07
7/15/07
7/21/07

31. Average 5-day average soil temperature (ºF)
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
3/5/07
3/11/07
3/17/07
3/23/07
3/29/07
A: Mar 14
4/4/07
4/10/07
4/16/07
4/22/07
4/28/07
5/4/07
5/10/07
5/16/07
5/22/07
5/28/07
6/3/07
6/9/07
6/15/07
6/21/07
6/27/07
7/3/07
Five-day Average Soil Temperature, 2007
7/9/07
7/15/07
7/21/07

32. Average 5-day average soil temperature (ºF)
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
3/5/07
3/11/07
3/17/07
3/23/07
3/29/07
A: Mar 14
4/4/07
4/10/07
B: Mar 25
4/16/07
4/22/07
4/28/07
5/4/07
5/10/07
5/16/07
5/22/07
5/28/07
6/3/07
6/9/07
6/15/07
6/21/07
6/27/07
7/3/07
Five-day Average Soil Temperature, 2007
7/9/07
7/15/07
7/21/07

33. Average 5-day average soil temperature (ºF)
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
3/5/07
3/11/07
3/17/07
C: Mar 28
3/23/07
3/29/07
A: Mar 14
4/4/07
4/10/07
B: Mar 25
4/16/07
4/22/07
4/28/07
5/4/07
5/10/07
5/16/07
5/22/07
5/28/07
6/3/07
6/9/07
6/15/07
6/21/07
6/27/07
7/3/07
Five-day Average Soil Temperature, 2007
7/9/07
7/15/07
7/21/07

34. Average 5-day average soil temperature (ºF)
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
3/5/07
3/11/07
3/17/07
C: Mar 28
3/23/07
3/29/07
A: Mar 14
4/4/07
4/10/07
B: Mar 25
D: Mar 30
4/16/07
4/22/07
4/28/07
5/4/07
5/10/07
5/16/07
5/22/07
5/28/07
6/3/07
6/9/07
6/15/07
6/21/07
6/27/07
7/3/07
Five-day Average Soil Temperature, 2007
7/9/07
7/15/07
7/21/07

35. Average 5-day average soil temperature (ºF)
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
3/5/07
3/11/07
3/17/07
C: Mar 28
3/23/07
3/29/07
A: Mar 14
4/4/07
4/10/07
B: Mar 25
D: Mar 30
4/16/07
4/22/07
4/28/07
5/4/07
E: May 2
5/10/07
5/16/07
5/22/07
5/28/07
6/3/07
6/9/07
6/15/07
6/21/07
6/27/07
7/3/07
Five-day Average Soil Temperature, 2007
7/9/07
7/15/07
7/21/07

36. Average 5-day average soil temperature (ºF)
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
3/5/07
3/11/07
3/17/07
C: Mar 28
3/23/07
3/29/07
A: Mar 14
4/4/07
4/10/07
B: Mar 25
D: Mar 30
4/16/07
4/22/07
4/28/07
5/4/07
E: May 2
5/10/07
5/16/07
5/22/07
start
5/28/07
Fairy ring
May 29th:
6/3/07
6/9/07
6/15/07
6/21/07
6/27/07
7/3/07
Five-day Average Soil Temperature, 2007
7/9/07
7/15/07
7/21/07

37. Average 5-day average soil temperature (ºF)
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
3/5/07
3/11/07
3/17/07
C: Mar 28
3/23/07
3/29/07
A: Mar 14
4/4/07
4/10/07
B: Mar 25
D: Mar 30
4/16/07
4/22/07
4/28/07
5/4/07
E: May 2
5/10/07
5/16/07
5/22/07
start
5/28/07
Fairy ring
May 29th:
6/3/07
6/9/07
6/15/07
F: May 30
6/21/07
6/27/07
7/3/07
Five-day Average Soil Temperature, 2007
7/9/07
7/15/07
7/21/07

38. Prevention of fairy ring caused by Vascellum pratense
in ‘A-1’ creeping bentgrass, 2007
9.0
Bayleton (1 oz/M)
Bayleton (2 oz/M)
Lynx (1 fl oz/M)
7.5
Lynx (2 fl oz/M)
Untreated a
Fairy Ring Severity (0 to 9)
6.0
a ab b
4.5
b b
3.0 a b
1.5 b b
b b c c
c
0
23-Jun 18-Jul 10-Aug
**Data is averaged across all application timings

39. Prevention of fairy ring caused by Vascellum pratense
in ‘A-1’ creeping bentgrass, 2007
9.0
A: 50 F
B: 55 F
7.5 C: 60 F a
D: 65 F
Fairy Ring Severity (0 to 9)
E: 70 F
6.0 F: 75 F
ab
4.5 b b
b
b
a
3.0 a
b
1.5
bc b b
b b
c c c b
0
23-Jun 4-Jul 10-Aug
**Data is averaged across all fungicides and rates

40. Bayleton, D, 2 oz
Lynx, D, 1 fl oz

42. June 22, 2007
Bayleton, D, 1 oz Untreated

43. Fairy ring prevention in creeping bentgrass, 2008
Fairy Ring Severity (0 to 9)
a
ab
bc
bcd
cd d cd
d

44. Fairy ring prevention in bermudagrass greens, 2008
Fairy Ring Severity (0 to 9)
a
ab
b b
b b b b

45. Refining Fungicide Recommendations
• How do wetting agents
influence performance of
preventative applications?
• Does post-application
irrigation improve
preventative control?
• If so, does irrigation need
to be applied immediately?

46. Refining Fungicide Recommendations
Irrigation
• immediately after • creeping bentgrass
application putting green
• 10 hours after applicaton • split-split-plot,
Fungicide randomized complete
block
• Bayleton (1 oz)
• applied in late March and
• Trinity (0.25 oz)
late April
• None
• fairy ring symptoms
Wetting Agent assessed throughout
• Revolution (6 fl oz) summer
• None

48. Impact of Revolution on Fairy Ring Control
a
Fairy Ring Severity (0 to 9)
ab
b b
b
b

49. Phytotoxicity - Tank-mixing Revolution (6 oz/1000 sq ft), 2008
4
Bayleton 4SC (2 oz/1000 sq ft)
Triton 70WG (0.25 oz/1000 sq ft)
Untreated
3
Phytotoxicity (0-9)
a
2
1 b
bc bc
c c
0
+ Revolution - Revolution
Treatments applied on March 28 & April 25
Data collected on May 27
Bars with same letter are not significantly different according to LSD (∞=0.05).

50. Conclusions: Preventative Fairy Ring Control

51. Conclusions: Preventative Fairy Ring Control
• the most common fairy ring pathogens in sand-based putting
greens are the puffball species Lycoperdon pusilum and Vascellum
pratense

52. Conclusions: Preventative Fairy Ring Control
• the most common fairy ring pathogens in sand-based putting
greens are the puffball species Lycoperdon pusilum and Vascellum
pratense
• DMI fungicides provide effective prevention of these fungi

53. Conclusions: Preventative Fairy Ring Control
• the most common fairy ring pathogens in sand-based putting
greens are the puffball species Lycoperdon pusilum and Vascellum
pratense
• DMI fungicides provide effective prevention of these fungi
• two applications when soil temperatures are between 55°F and
65°F

54. Conclusions: Preventative Fairy Ring Control
• the most common fairy ring pathogens in sand-based putting
greens are the puffball species Lycoperdon pusilum and Vascellum
pratense
• DMI fungicides provide effective prevention of these fungi
• two applications when soil temperatures are between 55°F and
65°F
• some injury noted from DMI applications – use low label rates,
ensure turf is actively growing and risk of hard frost is minimal

55. Conclusions: Preventative Fairy Ring Control

56. Conclusions: Preventative Fairy Ring Control
• tank-mixing with soil surfactant may slightly reduce efficacy of DMI
fungicides and increase the potential for phytotoxicity

57. Conclusions: Preventative Fairy Ring Control
• tank-mixing with soil surfactant may slightly reduce efficacy of DMI
fungicides and increase the potential for phytotoxicity
• other fungicides (Heritage, Insignia, ProStar) require tank-mixing
with a soil surfactant and re-application during the season

58. Conclusions: Preventative Fairy Ring Control
• tank-mixing with soil surfactant may slightly reduce efficacy of DMI
fungicides and increase the potential for phytotoxicity
• other fungicides (Heritage, Insignia, ProStar) require tank-mixing
with a soil surfactant and re-application during the season
• low rate (1 fl oz) of Heritage TL on 14 day interval more effective
than high rate (2 fl oz) on 28 day interval

59. Conclusions: Preventative Fairy Ring Control
• tank-mixing with soil surfactant may slightly reduce efficacy of DMI
fungicides and increase the potential for phytotoxicity
• other fungicides (Heritage, Insignia, ProStar) require tank-mixing
with a soil surfactant and re-application during the season
• low rate (1 fl oz) of Heritage TL on 14 day interval more effective
than high rate (2 fl oz) on 28 day interval
• all applications should be watered-in within 12 hours after
application for best results

60. Acknowledgements
NC State University Funding
Lee Miller Golf Course Superintendents
Association of America
Mike Soika
Carolinas Golf Course
Lee Butler Superintendents Association
Lake Wheeler Turf Field Bayer Environmental Science
Laboratory