Red Thread

What is Red Thread

Red thread is a common lawn disease caused by a fungus.  The first signs of red thread infestation is small circular pink or bleached looking patches in the lawn.  The disease if left unchecked can rapidly expand into larger patches, leaving behind dead grass.

If you look closely at infected areas; small, red, threadlike strands form near the tips of grass blades.  Red thread can easily be identified by looking for the pink colour it creates and leaves behind.

Red thread is at its peak when the weather is warm, usually during the late Spring, Summer and early Autumn.

How to Treat Red Thread

Red thread is best treated at the first signs of infestation using a systemic lawn fungicide like Bayer Garden's Lawn Disease Control.  To my knowledge, this is the only product available at present for home use in the UK.  This fungicide is soluble in water and when mixed into a spray, is effective at  combatting red thread.

As red thread is a fungus, it can spread easily.  It is advisable to treat the whole lawn not just the areas you can see are infected.

To help prevent red thread taking hold, feed your lawn in early spring and summer with a high nitrogen lawn food.

The Legal Bit

Lawn Disease Control contains trifloxystrobin as a water dispersible granule.  Always read the label, use safely.