By Ron Townsend, M.S., technical services manager for Syngenta

Rust diseases are one of the most common diseases on home lawns and caused by many species of Puccinia and Uromyces fungi. They can occur on all turfgrass species but are commonly found on bluegrasses and ryegrasses, causing:

• Stained shoes and clothes from their spores
• Stunted turfgrass growth
• Prevention of juvenile plants from reaching maturity

Disease development

The primary rust diseases seen on lawns are crown, leaf, stem and stripe. These pathogens survive and reproduce only in living tissues. They can survive year-round as long as temperatures remain warm enough for survival.

Rust diseases typically develop during cool and moist periods in the fall; however, they can appear in the spring in regions with warmer climates where they are more likely to survive the winter. Development occurs mostly in wet, shaded environments, but can also be found in open locations if weather conditions have been overcast and rainy for long periods.

Management Tips

One of the simplest ways to manage rust is to increase turfgrass growth. This can be done by:

• Applying adequate nitrogen along with irrigation to allow turf to grow out of the disease
• Reducing shade and improving air circulation
• Reducing thatch and avoiding drought stress leading into the fall

Some cases require a fungicide application if weather conditions have caused rusts to overcome cultural management strategies. Fungicides can also prevent rust from occurring or speed up treatment if it is present, especially if your customers are having trouble with rust spores causing stains.

Compendium™ fungicide is an excellent solution as it combines the active ingredients of Banner Maxx^® II and Heritage^® fungicides into one product to control rust diseases in addition to diseases like summer patch, large patch and spring dead spot. Applications made at 2.6 fl. oz./1,000 ft.² can provide 21-28 days of control.

Products such as Banner Maxx II (applied at 1-2 fl. oz./1,000 ft.²) and Heritage alone can also provide control. The higher rate is recommended if the disease is present. If a granular application is preferred, Heritage G is another control option.

For more information on treating rusts contact your local Syngenta territory manager.

All photos are either the property of Syngenta or are used with permission.

© 2024 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties and/or may have state-specific use requirements. Please check with your local extension service to ensure registration and proper use. Banner Maxx^®, Compendium™, Heritage^® and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.