You Are Here: Management Updates 2004 Archive July 9, 2004

Date: July 9, 2004
Category: Diseases
Subject: Suggestions for Dealing with Anthracnose

This stress disease is widespread throughout New England. It begins in the leaves, but moves quickly into the crown, especially where turf has a limited root system or is otherwise stressed. If you are trying to keep the greens fast by holding back N and water, anthracnose is likely to occur. This disease is a sign that you have gone too far. Despite the use of fungicides, the dying plants might look more obvious for a few days before they start to decay and disappear, so give the chemicals time to work before applying more.

If you have anthracnose at this time, keep these points in mind:

1. Look for the stresses that caused the problem. If anthracnose is mostly at the edge of the green, try to modify traffic patterns and skip the clean-up pass as often as possible. Raise mowing height temporarily. Don't double cut. Try to open compacted areas with hydroject, small tines, etc.

2. Give the plants what they need to recover: water and N. Avoid growth regulators until disease is checked.

3. When applying fungicides, you need a systemic, watered into the crown area, while still wet on the leaves, followed by a separate application of a contact (e.g. chlorothalonil) to protect the leaves and healthy plants. Stay on top of the contact applications (as allowable) between systemic applications. Contacts don't last more than 5-10 days at the very most.

- Submitted by: Dr. Gail Schumann