Knowledgebase

"Ferry Rings" #288628

Asked November 03, 2015, 3:34 PM EST

We have a 75'x40' residential front yard. In the spring of 20014 we started having "mushrooms" appearing in our yard. Our "lawn care" company didn't seem to have an answer. As the Summer progressed a semi-circle of dark green grass evolved (our yard is 90% St Augustine). 

The yard care co. researched our situation and said it was "Ferry Ring" We were told there's not much you can do. On advise we covered with Peat Moss and watered heavily. Our yard company said there is an expensive fungicide which is only 50-60% effective. The semicircle is bisected by a sidewalk and one side has disappeared (deep color and no mushrooms) the other side prevails with color and mushrooms.
 1. Is there any treatment available? 2. Any guess how it ended up in our yard.


Tarrant County Texas

Expert Response

The term for mushrooms in a ring is Fairy Ring, so called because people used to think they were where fairies danced. In general, the best way to eliminate mushroom, moss and such in a lawn is to cultivate a very healthy lawn so it out-competes them. It sounds like this worked on one side of your sidewalk. You might evaluate what conditions are different on the other side - is it wetter, dryer, more compacted, sunnier, shadier, etc?
Here is some info from the Pacific Northwest on Fairy rings. There may be particulars which are different in your part of the country - I would suggest checking with your local extension office for more information.

From the PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook:
Cause Nearly 60 different species of basidomycete fungi have been implicated in fairy rings including species of Agraricales and Gastromycetales, mostly in the genera Agaricus, Calvatia, Chlorophyllum, Clitocybe, Lepiota, Lycoperdon, Marasmius, Scleroderma, and Tricholoma. Some may be poisonous. They decompose organic matter such as dead tree roots and bark mulch. Fairy rings are more severe on sandy soils, where fertility is low, and when drought is common. All grasses are affected. The problem is common in Oregon, Washington, and northern Idaho. Symptoms Rings or semicircles of dark green grass, which expand outward over several years. Mushrooms or puffballs may grow out of the green zone. Dead grass sometimes is inside the ring adjacent to the ring of dark green grass. It is possible for fairy rings to grow into and then through and out of a turf area. Fairy rings are of minor importance in home lawns. Cultural control
  • Rake or mow off mushrooms or puffballs. They will quickly decompose and can be composted.
  • Mask symptoms by fertilizing and watering to promote grass growth.
  • Aerate soil by coring to aid water penetration in the rings themselves. Then drench with water plus a wetting agent.
  • In extreme cases, it may be necessary to renovate the area by removing sod and thoroughly mixing the top 6 to 8 inches of soil with a rototiller. Reseed or sod when finished.
Chemical control Not generally recommended because it is difficult to disperse chemical effectively throughout the soil. Success is limited, and results may be erratic. Reference Miller, G. L., Grand, L. F., and Tredway, L. P. 2011. Identification and distribution of fungi associated with fairy rings on golf putting greens.

Signe Danler, Online Home Horticulture Instructor Replied November 15, 2015, 1:05 PM EST

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