If larger, unsightly areas form in the lawn, then it may be witch rings caused by a fungus. Not every garden owner is already aware of these diseases. The rings destroy the appearance of the lawn and, if not controlled, the fungal spores can multiply throughout the garden. However, the infestation can be counteracted with appropriate measures. You can combat the fungus with fungicides or removing the soil, but prevention is always the most sensible option.
Identifying witch rings
If circular, unsightly, yellowish spots form on a piece of lawn over time, which can be a considerable size of up to several meters in circumference, then the gardener speaks of witch rings. This is a fungal disease that must be combated as quickly as possible so that the fungus does not spread throughout the garden through its spores, which are carried by the wind, and in the worst case scenario also affects a kitchen garden or fruit trees. The witch rings have a very specific appearance by which the fungal disease can be quickly recognized even by an inexperienced hobby gardener:
- ring-shaped discolorations form in the lawn
- these are made from dead blades of grass
- small circle-shaped mushrooms often grow on the lawn
- these rings are often separated from the rest of the lawn by dark grasses
- These grow particularly well because they feed on the mushrooms
- The resulting circles result from fungi spreading evenly from their infection site to all sides
Tip:
If such circular rings are seen on the lawn, immediate action should be taken to prevent them from enlarging and spreading further.
Causes and Prevention
The cause of witch rings appearing in the lawn is often due to soil that is too dense, impermeable and too much moisture. A lack of nutrients can also promote the appearance of fungi in the garden. Therefore, preventing these causes from the outset is the best remedy against witch rings:
- Dethatching helps to provide the lawn with enough oxygen and destroy fungi in advance
- Ideally scarify twice a year, in spring and autumn
- always keep the soil loose
- Prick the ground with a garden fork or rake
- Sand filled into these holes ensures water permeability
- Fertilize your lawn more often throughout the year
- In places that receive little or no sun, make sure that the lawn does not remain too moist
- just planted under trees on a lawn, fungal infestation quickly forms
- Do not leave grass clippings lying around but remove them completely after mowing
- If matted areas appear, remove them and possibly sow new lawn in their place
Tip:
There are already lawn mowers with a built-in scarifier so that both jobs can be done in one. The collecting basket should always be used for the grass clippings so that they do not remain on the freshly mown lawn and thus provide a good breeding ground for the fungus.
Combat through removal
If you want to use biological means and gently to combat the witch rings, it is advisable to work carefully. If small mushrooms, the fruiting bodies, are already visible, they must be removed in such a way that no spores are left behind. Therefore, you should always wear disposable gloves when removing the fruiting bodies. You should proceed as follows:
- Dispose of gloves directly in a bag after removing all fungi
- When removing the fruiting bodies themselves, place them directly in a tight plastic bag provided
- provide these directly at the workplace
- This way you can avoid long journeys with the mushrooms in your hand
- Finally, tie the bag tightly and dispose of it in the household waste
- all traces have been removed, loosen the soil well, fertilize and sow new grass.
- do not drive the lawnmower over the affected areas
- This spreads the fungal spores over the entire lawn
Tip:
Never put removed grass, fungi or other plant residues from an infected lawn into the compost; instead, dispose of them in a well-sealed household waste container. Otherwise the mushrooms can spread again throughout the garden the next time you fertilize with compost.
Fungicide control
If commercially available supportive agents are to combat the witch rings in the lawn, a fungicide must be applied over a large area. It is good if the affected areas are prepared beforehand, as described under “Combat through removal”. The antifungal agent can then be applied to the entire lawn. Always pay attention to the manufacturer's instructions on the product and proceed as follows:
- Wear protective clothing, long sleeves and pants so that the skin does not come into contact with the product
- Wear gardening gloves, possibly a painter's mask, so that the poison is not inhaled
- only work on calm days
- Do not use the product in direct sunlight
- Fungicides usually have to be used more frequently so that the fungi are completely killed
Tip:
Especially if the affected lawn is near a kitchen garden, the fungicides should only be used very carefully, because they not only act against the fungus in the lawn, they can also affect the groundwater and thus also the neighboring kitchen garden become dangerous.
If nothing helps
If the fungicides don't help at all and the fungus continues to spread unhindered, the only measure left is soil removal. This is of course very time-consuming, especially with a large lawn, and should therefore only be carried out in an extreme emergency. The affected area is generously removed with a spade. It is important to ensure that the soil removed is disposed of immediately and not used elsewhere in the garden. At least 15 cm should be removed to ensure that there is no longer any infected soil. New, fresh soil is filled into the holes created and new lawn is sown, or if things need to be done faster, planted.
Tip:
Mix the soil to be filled in directly with sand and fertilizer, so the soil is more permeable and well prepared for the new lawn.
Conclusion
Once fungi have settled in the lawn, it will be difficult to remove them completely. It is therefore better to take good care of the lawn right from the start and not give witch rings a chance in the first place. If it does happen, witch rings in the lawn can be combated by removing the areas or using fungicides. Because the annoying witch rings in the lawn are not just a cosmetic defect but also a disease that should be avoided or combated at all costs, otherwise it could spread throughout the entire garden.
