Fairy ring, a lawn disease caused by soil fungi, creates visible, darker grass or mushroom rings. Environmental changes can temporarily diminish them, but the fungus often remains dormant beneath the soil. Without addressing this, fairy rings can reappear when conditions improve. Investing in routine lawn care, like fertilization and aeration, enhances soil health and helps prevent fairy ring by fortifying the lawn against diseases. Additionally, specific preventative and curative treatments can manage and eliminate fairy ring. Regular maintenance ensures a resilient, aesthetically pleasing lawn in Tennessee, reducing the likelihood of recurring fungal issues.


Fairy ring can often go away on its own as environmental conditions change.

Lawn in Memphis, TN, with fairy ring disease.

Fairy ring is a lawn disease caused by fungi that decompose organic matter in the soil. The most visible sign of fairy ring is a circle or arc of darker green grass, or occasionally, a ring of mushrooms.

Environmental changes, such as increased rainfall, temperature shifts, or changes in soil composition, can alter the balance of conditions that support the growth of these fungi. When conditions become unfavorable, the visible symptoms of fairy ring may fade away. For instance, during extended dry spells, the fungi may not be active enough to create rings, leading some property owners to assume the issue has resolved itself. However, this natural disappearance is often temporary, and fairy ring can reappear when favorable conditions return.


Fairy Ring Can Disappear on Its Own, But the Fungus Typically Remains

Although the surface symptoms of fairy ring might vanish, the underlying fungal networks typically remain intact beneath the soil. This persistence is due to the ability of the fungi to live off the organic matter in the soil, even without causing visible symptoms. These fungi can remain dormant for long periods, waiting for conditions to become conducive for growth again.

The resurgence of fairy ring can happen almost spontaneously with changes in the environment. This is because the fungi are opportunistic, thriving when moisture levels, temperature, and available nutrients align. As a result, without addressing the root cause, property owners may find themselves dealing with recurring fairy rings that not only affect the aesthetics of their lawn but can also disrupt the balance of the root system over time.

The fungus causing fairy ring can remain dormant for long periods, waiting for conditions to become conducive for growth again.

Invest in Routine Lawn Care to Prevent Fairy Ring

Vibrant, green grass in sunlight in Memphis, TN.

One of the best ways to prevent fairy ring from appearing on your lawn is to invest in routine lawn care. This includes regular fertilization and aeration to improve soil conditions and help your lawn resist disease.

  • Lawn fertilization provides your lawn with the nutrients it needs to grow strong and healthy, allowing it to resist fungal issues like fairy ring.
  • Lawn aeration helps to improve soil structure and allows air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots of your grass.

Preventative and curative disease control treatments are available to target fairy ring.

In addition to routine care, there are specific treatments available that can either prevent or cure fairy ring. Preventative measures might include applying fungicides before the fungus becomes active. These treatments can reduce the incidence of fairy ring and help maintain a uniform lawn appearance. Curative treatments, on the other hand, aim to manage and eliminate an existing infection. These often involve a combination of fungicides that break down the fungal networks in the soil.


Give us a call today to sign up for our lawn disease control service!

Fairy ring can sometimes disappear on its own as environmental conditions change, but the underlying fungus will usually remain and may reappear in the future. To prevent fairy ring from taking hold of your lawn, we can help! Our team at Herbi-Systems offers a lawn disease control service that includes both preventative and curative treatments against various fungal issues, like fairy ring.

Whether you want to keep the disease from ever developing or stop an active one from spreading further, our crew has you covered. We offer this service to commercial and residential properties, as well as HOAs, in Memphis, Collierville, Germantown, TN, and nearby areas. Call us today at (901) 382-5296 to sign up for this service!