Fall disease alert

In this Update, we deal with four turf diseases that may require your attention during the early fall. They are rapid blight, anthracnose, dollar spot and snow mold (pink and gray).

Rapid blight, caused by Labyrinthula terrestris, can be a year-round problem on poa and rye, but the cool fall weather seems to especially encourage this disease. High soil salinity or sodium are the primary stress factors but aerification, sand topdressing and renovation procedures seem to further increase the plant's…