best way in dealing with necrotic ring spots in lawns.Are some grasses less susceptible than others.?

Question

Current lawn is a sunny blend mix. Location: Indianapolis ,IN area.I have an irrigation system and the lawn is watered every other day or as conditions dictate. This appears to be an annual problem. In each case I overseed the lawn. Looks good in early spring but goes haywire following high temperature and humidity conditions.

Answer 1

change your watering time to early morning, reduce your water through the high heat / high humidity.
also you may consider de-thatching the lawn, and a couple passes with an aerator, to loosen up the soil and allow the grass to breath

Answer 2

Since you're experiencing this disease, I assume you have a Kentucky Bluegrass lawn--which tend to be most susceptible to Necrotic Ring Spot.

I just called a golf course superintendent, who is a friend of mine... to specifically ask about your question and he told me there are several ways to reduce the occurence of the problem you're experiencing;

1) DO NOT OVERWATER and OVER-FERTILIZE! This will only lead to greater loss of your turf.

2) Aerate once or twice a year (Spring/Fall) to help reduce thatch build-up and improve soil drainage.

3) Try to maintain a mowing height of 2 1/2 - 3 inches

4) Try to avoid large Nitrogen applications and consider switching to slow-release types

5) During hot days, irrigate mid-day to help cool the turf and prevent further spread of the disease.

There are now some varieties of Kentucky Bluegrass that are less susceptible to NRS but he wasn't sure if they were available to the general public;
‘Adelphi’, ‘Apex’, ‘Eclipse’, ‘Kelly’, ‘Midnight’, ‘NuBlue’, ‘Nugget’, ‘NewStar’, and ‘Wabash’.

The other suggestion he made was over-seed with some perennial ryegrass since it isn't affected by NRS.

Hope this information was of some help to you. I benefited from asking my friend this question also since I suspect an area of my Bluegrass lawn being infected as well.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 3

From Jerry Baker's web site
http://www.jerrybaker.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=2#lawns

All-Season Green-Up Tonic
1 can of beer,
1 cup of ammonia,
1/2 cup of Plant Shampoo,
1/2 cup of Liquid Lawn Food, and
1/2 cup molasses or corn syrup

Mix all of the ingredients in a bucket, and pour into your 20 gallon hose-end sprayer. Apply to everything in your yard to the point or run-off every 3 weeks, in the morning, throughout the growing season.

Answer 4

Are some grasses less susceptible than others to disease? Yes, every type of grass has varying degrees of disease tolerance and climate/location also plays a role. You may need to research about different types of grasses or call your local extension office to find out what the best types of grasses to grow in your area.

Answer 5

Necrotic ring is caused by a fungus. Years ago, I purchased Jerry Baker's book called "The Impatient Gardener." He covers how to use inexpensive, common, household products to take care of your lawn. It's copyrighted material, so I really don't want to give out his lawn recipe here, but it's a mixture of dish soap, beer, ammonia, and epsom salts. It works great, keeps broadleaf weeds in check, kills fungus, and creates a lush green lawn. I highly reccommend it!

Answer 6

are you watering after 4pm? if so stop