Turf Fungicides Explained: How to Protect Grass from Disease Pressure
Fungal diseases are a major challenge in turf management and can strike even healthy, well-maintained areas. Disease outbreaks affect appearance, playability, safety, and long-term turf recovery — especially on premium surfaces like sporting fields, greens, fairways and high-value lawns.
What causes fungal diseases to escalate?
Disease organisms thrive in specific environmental conditions. Warm, humid nights, reduced sunlight, excessive irrigation or dew, and poor airflow create ideal environments for pathogens. That’s why monitoring weather patterns and microclimates is essential.
Factors that increase disease risk include:
- Overwatering or watering late in the evening
- Shaded or high-traffic areas
- High nitrogen fertilisation
- Thatch build-up
- Extended leaf wetness
These conditions allow spores to germinate and spread before visible symptoms appear.
Common turf diseases in Australia
- Dollar spot — thrives in humid weather with low nitrogen levels
- Brown patch — favoured by warm, wet conditions
- Spring dead spot — active in cooler months, visible in spring
- Fusarium (Microdochium patch) — common in cool-season varieties
- Anthracnose — often linked to stressed turf
Understanding which diseases are common in your region helps shape an effective fungicide program.
How fungicides work: protectant vs systemic
Fungicides fall into two general categories:
Protectant (Contact) Fungicides
These stay on the leaf surface and prevent infection before it occurs. Multi-site products, such as chlorothalonil, are excellent for resistance management and form a reliable foundation in a disease-prevention program.
Systemic Fungicides
These move into the leaf tissue and can stop early infections inside the plant. Systemic fungicides such as iprodione, azoxystrobin and tebuconazole provide longer residual control and are especially useful during periods of elevated disease pressure.
Build a program that prevents, not reacts
The most successful turf managers treat proactively. By rotating fungicide groups, scheduling preventative applications and reducing environmental stress, you avoid severe outbreaks and minimise the need for repeated rescue sprays.
A seasonal fungicide strategy may include:
- Early-spring clean-up spray
- Preventative autumn application
- Strategic treatments after rainfall or high humidity
- Rotation of FRAC groups to prevent resistance
Why PCT fungicides support better turf health
The Surefire fungicide range combines multi-site protectants and systemic options to help turf managers choose the right approach at the right time. Field-proven in Australian conditions, they provide reliability during key disease windows and support the turf in maintaining colour, density and strength.