Fairy Ring: Identification and Treatment in Georgia
Fairy ring creates expanding circles of dead turf and mushrooms that get worse every year. Learn what causes it and how professional treatment keeps it under control.
Disease profile
What Is Fairy Ring?
Fairy ring shows up as dark green circles, arcs, or rings of mushrooms in the lawn. The fungi that cause it live in the soil, feeding on buried organic matter like old tree roots, construction debris, or thick thatch. The rings expand outward year after year, and in severe cases, the soil beneath becomes hydrophobic — repelling water and killing the turf.
Symptoms
How to Identify Fairy Ring
Dark green circles or arcs of faster-growing grass
Rings or arcs of mushrooms appearing after rain
Dead or thin turf in a ring pattern between the green bands
Soil within the ring becomes dry and repels water (hydrophobic)
White fungal mycelium visible in the thatch or soil when dug up
Rings expand outward 6 to 24 inches per year
Conditions
What Causes Fairy Ring
Favorable Conditions
Buried organic matter in the soil (old tree stumps, roots, construction wood)
Heavy thatch layer providing a food source
Sandy or light soils that dry out quickly
Prolonged warm, wet weather followed by dry spells
Lawns established on cleared wooded land
Areas where organic debris was buried during construction
Susceptible Grass Types
Treatment
How to Prevent and Treat Fairy Ring
Cultural Prevention
Remove old tree stumps and buried wood debris when possible
Core aerate regularly to break up thatch and improve water penetration
Dethatch when the layer exceeds ½ inch
Apply a wetting agent to hydrophobic soil to help water infiltrate
Maintain consistent irrigation — fairy ring damage is worst in dry soil
Professional Treatment
Fairy ring is one of the hardest lawn diseases to eliminate because the fungus lives deep in the soil. We use a combination of fungicide, core aeration, and wetting agents to manage it. Aeration breaks up the hydrophobic soil layer, wetting agents help water penetrate, and fungicide suppresses the fungal growth. Complete eradication isn’t always realistic — but we can minimize the visual impact and prevent turf loss.
Left untreated
What Happens Without Treatment
Rings expand year after year. In mild cases, you just see dark green circles. In severe cases, the soil beneath the ring becomes so hydrophobic that water can’t reach the roots, and the turf dies in a ring pattern. The dead ring widens over time, and the hydrophobic soil makes it very difficult for grass to re-establish in those areas.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Fairy Ring
Why do mushrooms grow in a circle in my lawn?
The fungus starts from a central point (usually buried organic matter) and grows outward in all directions. The mushrooms fruit at the actively growing outer edge, forming the ring pattern. The ring gets bigger every year.
Are fairy ring mushrooms poisonous?
Some fairy ring mushrooms are toxic and some are not, depending on the species. We recommend never eating any mushrooms growing in your lawn. If you have children or pets, knock mushrooms down when they appear.
Can you completely get rid of fairy ring?
Complete eradication is very difficult because the fungus can extend 12 inches or more into the soil. We manage it with fungicide, aeration, and wetting agents to minimize symptoms and prevent turf death. Removing the buried organic food source (if accessible) is the only permanent fix.
Why is the grass dead in a ring but green on both sides?
The fungal mycelium in the ring makes the soil hydrophobic — it literally repels water. The grass dies from drought even if you’re irrigating. Aeration and wetting agents break through the hydrophobic layer to get water back to the roots.
Take action
Stop Fairy Ring Before It Spreads
Every day without treatment is another day the damage gets worse. Get professional disease control backed by our expert lawn care team.
