METHOD OF TREATING FUNGAL DISEASE SYMPTOMS IN LAWNS

METHODE POUR TRAITER DES GAZONS MANIFESTANT DES SYMPTOMES DE MALADIES FONGIQUES

English Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A method of treating infestations of fungi in lawns,
which is comprised of the step of organically stimulating
growth of a wide range of competing microbial organisms in
lawns infected by fungi infestations thereby restoring the
microbial equilibrium in the soil to control the fungi.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS::
1. A method of treating infestations of fungi in lawns,
comprising the step of:
organically stimulating growth of a wide range of
competing microbial organisms in lawns infected by fungi
infestations thereby restoring the microbial equilibrium in
the soil to control the fungi.
2. The method of treating infestations of fungi as defined
in Claim 1, the means for organically stimulating growth of
a wide range of competing microbial organisms being the
application of organic source materials combined with the
application of water on a periodic basis to the infected
area such that the area is kept moist.
3. The method of treating infestations of fungi as defined
in Claim 2, the organic source materials being blood meal,
bone meal and fish meal,
4. The method of treating infestations of fungi as defined
in Claim 3, the proportions by weight of the organic source
materials being 30% blood meal, 20% bone meal and 50% fish
meal.

5. A method of treating infestations of fungi in lawns,
comprising the step of:
a. applying organic source materials to an infected
area of a lawn infected by fungi, the proportions by weight
of the organic source materials being 30% blood meal, 20%
bone meal and 50% fish meal; and
b. applying water on a periodic basis to the infected
area such that the infected area is kept moist and the
growth of a wide range of competing microbial organisms is
organically stimulated thereby restoring the microbial
equilibrium in the soil to control the fungi.

Description

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The present invention relates to a method of treating
finagle disease symptoms in lawns.
5 BACKGROUND OF THE INIVEIITIOE
There are a number of finagle diseases which attack
lawn; the musk common ox which are rings of mushrooms
known as "fairy rings". These rings begin as small
clusters of mushrooms and can grow in size to cover several
acre. They are known for their formation in a circle that
continuously moves outwardly. Studies have established
that the fairy ring problem is generally associated with
very low nitrogen levels in the soil in combination with
drought like conditions. To date approximately seventeen
species of fungi have been identified that can produce this
problem.
Traditional approaches to the problem have hocused
upon the application of nitrogen fertilizers, eliminating
the drought-like conditions and aerating the soil. These
types of treatment have produced varying degrees of
Sioux s, but generally have not proved satisfactory. A
more radical approach has been to excavate the soil where
the problem is occurring and replace it with soil that is r
hopefully, not contaminated. A variety of chemicals have
been developed to "kill" fairy ring fungi, but as with
other methods these have not proven satisfactory.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is a method of treatment of finagle
disease symptoms in lawns which provides more satisfactory
results.
According to the present invention there is provided
a method of treating infestations of fungi in lawns, which
is comprised of the step of organically stimulating growth
of a wide range of competing microbial organisms in lawns
infected by fungi infestations thereby restoring the
microbial equilibrium in the soil to control the fungi.

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It is preferred that the means used for organically
stimulating growth of a wide range of competing microbial
orgarlisms be the application of organic source materials
and the application of water to the infected area so as to
the keep the infected axe moist. These organic source
materials can be many of the constituents used in organic
fertilizers.
Finagle growth is not limited to the conditions in
which fairy rings flourish. The same fungi which cause
fairy ring are commonly present in lush green healthy
lawns but are held in check by other organisms. If the
fungi are normally present, focusing on killing the fungi
is an incorrect approach. An effort must be made to
address the underlying problems which have led to the fungi
becoming dominant over other microbial organisms. Fairy
rings develop when the normal microbial equilibrium of the
toil it disturbed. Contrary to methods which have been
proposed for fairy ring treatment, the preferred solution
does not lie in "killing" fungi which cause the fairy ring.
It is preferred that a wide variety of other organisms in
the soil be stimulated, to restore the natural balance in
the soil present in healthy lawns. As the population of
competing microbial organisms increases, the fungi which
cause fairy rings are suppressed and the symptoms
disappear. Mushroom growths begin to shrivel up and die
within a period of days and do not return for the balance
of the growing season.
DWIGHT D D13SCRIPTION (IF TAO PROOFREAD E~lBODIME~iT
The preferred method will now be described. For the
reasons previously described the approach of the present
method is to organically stimulating growth of a wide range
of competing microbial organisms in lawns infected by fungi
35 infestations. When the normal microbial equilibrium in the
soil is restored the competing microbial organisms control
the fungi. It is preferred that -the growth of a wide range

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of competing microbial organisms be stimulated through the
application of organic source materials to the lawn. There
are a variety of organic source materials, many of which
are commercially available in the form of organic
fertilizers; although organic fertilizers per so are not
particularly adapted for this purpose. It is preferred
that the organic source materials be blood meal, bone meal
and fish meal A particularly beneficial blend of these
organic source materials well suited for this purpose
listed in proportions by weight is a composition consisting
of 30~ blood meal, 20% bone meal and 50~ fish meal.
The aerating of the infected area will improve thy
effectiveness of the organic source materials. Aerating
creates spaces for the organic source materials to
penetrate the soil and also helps in and of itself to
stimulate microbial activity as it increases available
oxygen.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the
method, as described, is effective in the treatment of
fairy rings. It will also be apparent to one skilled in
the art that this method is also effective in controlling
a variety of other finagle disease symptoms. It will
finally be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modification may be made to the particular composition
which is preferred without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as defined by the claims.