Fairy ring is a chronic problem on golf course putting greens across the United States. Both warm and cool-season grasses are susceptible to fairy ring, and the disease is most damaging in the sandy soils that are preferred for putting greens. By creating optimal playing conditions for the golfer, we also create optimal growing conditions for fairy ring pathogens.

The traditional approach to fairy ring control is to wait for symptoms to appear, and then make a curative fungicide application tank mixed with a soil surfactant. One major problem with this approach is that curative fungicide applications do not work very well on fairy ring. By the time symptoms appear, the pathogen has changed the chemical or physical properties of the soil. To cure fairy ring symptoms, the soil conditions have to be brought back to normal with cultivation, soil surfactants and irrigation. 

Photo by Dr. Lane Tredway

Advanced research in fairy ring management now makes it possible to take preventive action before symptoms appear. The puffball fungi that are most prevalent in putting greens begin to grow through the thatch and soil in the spring when soil temperatures increase to 55° F. This is the key time to initiate a preventive program with an application of Headway^®, Heritage^® TL or Heritage™ WDG fungicides.

No single fungicide will provide season-long control of fairy ring, so periodic applications are necessary throughout the season to maintain suppression. Syngenta Agronomic Programs are specifically designed to prevent fairy ring while controlling other diseases in the most effective and efficient manner. A summer rotation of Briskway^® and Velista™ fungicides provides a powerful combination of three classes of chemistry to deliver outstanding results.

Velista, a new fungicide from Syngenta, is the broadest spectrum SDHI available in the turf market. Outstanding activity against fairy ring, anthracnose, summer patch and Rhizoctonia zeae make it the perfect rotational partner with Briskway for summer disease control in both warm and cool-season putting greens.

To learn more about how to protect your golf course from turf disease, contact your local Syngenta territory manager.

©2015 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions before buying or using Syngenta products. The label contains important conditions of sale, including limitations of remedy and warranty. Syngenta supports a FIFRA Section 2(ee) recommendation for Velista fungicide to control summer patch and fairy ring on all turf types. Please see the section 2(ee) recommendation to confirm that the recommendation is applicable in your state. Briskway®, Headway®, Heritage™, Velista™ and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.