[Leica] IMG: Information Needed on Cause of Lawn Circle

[leicar at q.com (Aram Langhans)]

Hi Jim.  Did it start smaller and then grow to that size?  It looks like 
fairy ring, a fungus (mushroom) that is common in lawns.

They start out small and then grow larger and larger until they just run 
their course, usually.  The lawn is usually greener and lusher on the inside 
as the fungus processes all the dead things in the lawn and gives the grass 
a shot of fertilizer.  If you give it a lot of water, you may see some 
mushrooms surface.  The usual "cure" is lots of water.  I saw someone said 
to use some detergent.  That might work well as it will allow the water to 
soak through what is usually a dense layer of fungus hyphae that does not 
allow the water to penetrate at the actual ring.  Probably can't hurt.

Supposedly many fairy ring mushrooms are edible but I have never tried them.

Aram

> Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:52:10 -0500
> From: "Jim Nichols" <jhnichols at lighttube.net>
> Subject: [Leica] IMG: Information Needed on Cause of Lawn Circle
> To: "LUG at Leica-Users.org" <lug at leica-users.org>
> Cc: Olympus Camera Discussion <olympus at thomasclausen.net>
> Message-ID: <978FB258646E44CAA3F682B552AF1BCE at jimnichols>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> I know there are many knowledgable people on these two lists. I am looking 
> for a hint on the cause of a circle of dead grass that is very well 
> defined on my lawn and extends, faintly, into the adjoining lawn.
>
> I recall that a cherry tree once existed in this general area in the 
> neighboring lawn. I had a maple in my yard that was damaged by a wind 
> storm and removed.  However, neither of these was near the center of the 
> circle.  I have heard that maple roots can cause problems in grass, but no 
> previously-existing root circle matches what I now observe.
>
> Anyone got a suggestion?
>
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Lawn+Circle.jpg.html
>
> Jim Nichols
> Tullahoma, TN USA