Rust colored grass fungus... and a tortoise who eats it? How do I kill the fungus safely?
Question:I have a large tortoise that eats the grass as main staple. The grass has a rust colored fungus growing all over it that needs to be treated safely.
My boyfriend bought commercial fungicide to treat it, and I feel it is harmful to my tortoise. We are in conflict about this.
Anyone have suggestions to treat the fungus without harming an animal that eats the grass?
Answers:
Rust is a common turfgrass disease that occurs in summer to early fall. It occurs on lawns with low nitrogen fertility and lack of water. Cools nights with heavy dew and light frequent rains enhance the conditions for the development of this fungus. Do NOT water at night. Rust occurs on Kentucky Bluegrass, tall fescue and perennial ryegrass lawns. It spreads via air, water, shoes, lawn equipment or on new sod.
You control rust through sound cultural practices. Seldom is there a need to use fungicides for rust, except in the most severe cases. Cultural practices start with the selection of disease resistant cultivars. A diverse stand of turf with a mix of grass types also helps.
Maintain your turf with adequate water, mowing, proper fertilizing, and control thatch build-up. A good fall fertilization will go a long way to preventing rust next season.
P.S. Fungicides are preventative. Applying a fungicide after your grass is infected will do absolutely nothing to rid your lawn of rust. Watering and mowing is about the best you can do right now, and its better for that tortoise.
sounds like your grass is wet alot. try drying it out for a few days
More Related Questions & Answers...