DISEASE CONTROL - Anthracnose

Anthracnose is a common problem for superintendents whose courses have creeping bentgrass or annual bluegrass. This disease can appear as foliar blight with infection showing in the leaves or a basal rot that attacks crowns, stolons and leaf sheaths of the turf. The disease presents itself in a variety of ways – yellow or orange in color, irregular patterns, small spots, or in patches up to 1 foot in diameter.

Low mowing heights, high traffic, and poor irrigation or fertilization cause high-stress conditions in certain areas of the golf course making them a magnet for anthracnose. Unfortunately, anthracnose knows no seasonal bounds. During hot summer months, creeping bentgrass is susceptible to basal rot symptoms of the disease, however, anthracnose can also present itself as foliar blight during cool and cloudy weather conditions. For annual bluegrass, the opposite is true with basal rot issues occurring in cool overcast weather and foliar blight presenting itself during the hot summer months.

Needless to say, there is no shortage of curveballs this disease can throw at you. So, that begs the question, what can we do to control it?