Troubleshooting
Red Fescue problems — and how to fix them
Red Fescue (Festuca rubra) is generally low-drama, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Dollar spot (Sclerotinia homoeocarpa)
Small, straw-coloured spots appear on the sward in warm, humid weather; improve drainage, reduce thatch, and avoid evening irrigation to lower the risk.
Red thread (Laetisaria fuciformis)
Pink-red mycelial threads bind the leaf blades in autumn and spring; caused by low nitrogen and wet weather — a light spring nitrogen feed usually resolves it without fungicide.
Prevent red fescue problems before they start
Most red fescue issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Red Fescue problems — FAQ
Why is my red fescue dollar spot (sclerotinia homoeocarpa)?
Small, straw-coloured spots appear on the sward in warm, humid weather; improve drainage, reduce thatch, and avoid evening irrigation to lower the risk.
Why is my red fescue red thread (laetisaria fuciformis)?
Pink-red mycelial threads bind the leaf blades in autumn and spring; caused by low nitrogen and wet weather — a light spring nitrogen feed usually resolves it without fungicide.