Hit two birds with one stone using the DMIs

Although it's not yet officially spring, temperatures across North Carolina are becoming conducive to two common spring diseases: dollar spot and fairy ring. Now's the best time to initiate preventive fungicide programs for these diseases.

The dollar spot pathogen becomes active when low temperatures are consistently above 50ºF, especially when combined with heavy dew formation during the night. Looking at the forecast for the next week, low temperatures will remain in the low- to mid-50s for about another week in Wilmington, Raleigh, Greensboro, and Charlotte.

For greens established with creeping bentgrass, we recommend initiating preventive fungicide treatments for fairy ring when 5-day average soil temperature reaches 55ºF. Most of North Carolina will be hitting that mark over the next week as well.

Our recent research shows that the DMI fungicides, like Bayleton, Torque, Tourney, and Triton, are very effective for fairy ring prevention. These treatments, even though they are watered into the soil, will also provide excellent dollar spot control because the DMIs are translocated upward in the plant. So, in the current environment where everyone is looking to save money, the DMIs are an excellent way to control both dollar spot and fairy ring with one application!

For more information, please visit our disease profiles on dollar spot and fairy ring, or the Disease Management Utility for assistance in selecting a fungicide and application rate.