Coochie Hydrogreen: Advice Sheet

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Dollar Spot (Sclerotinia homeocarpa)

Situation: Predominantly golf and bowling greens affecting all turf grass species.
Turf Damage: Small (4-5cm) circular sunken patches.
Occurrence: First appears as mycelium (cottony thread). Generally occurs at 15 - 30C with high humidity or dew, and low nitrogen levels in turf.

Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia solani)

Situation: Predominantly golf and bowling greens affecting all turf grass species.
Turf Damage: First sign is a “smoke ring”. Plant leaves then appear “water soaked” before turning dark brown in patches up to 1m in size.
Occurrence: Occurs at 15-20C with high humidity predominantly in spring and autumn.

Pythium Blight (Pythium spp.)

Situation: Predominantly golf and bowling greens affecting all turf grass species.
Turf Damage: Begins as circular spots with a light brown water soaked appearance. Can feel slimy and effect large areas of turf quickly.
Occurrence: Warm nights (+20C) and warm days especially with soft growth from nitrogen (N) application.

Spring Dead Spot (Leptosphaeria spp.)

Situation: Predominantly couch grass turf areas.
Turf Damage: Circular patches often appear in autumn and at spring green up. Restricts growth in spring.
Occurrence: Generates with soil temperature around 15C in dormant couch grass.

Fusarium Patch (Microdochium nivale)

Situation: Affects both cool and warm season grasses.
Turf Damage: A small circular patch with a distinct smoke ring apparent in winter. May show a pink ring with a white centre.
Occurrence: Prevalent in cool conditions (0-8CC) in turf with high nitrogen levels.

Helminthosporium Complex
(Dreschslera spp., Bipolaris spp. Excerohilum spp.)

Situation: Predominantly golf and bowling greens of all species. Also effects kikuyu racetracks.
Turf Damage: Causes reddish brown to pupils-black spots on leaves and stems which spreads quickly. Leads to turf desiccation.
Occurrence: Wet conditions with high humidity between 3-30C.