Fact Sheets

In order to help members and customers the TGA has produced the following fact sheets. Click on the link to see the full text. Files are also available in PDF format if you wish to download them.

Toadstools in newly laid turf
It is very common for small brown toadstools to appear in recently laid turf. They are of particular concern to parents of small children, who worry that they may be harmful if eaten.

Red Thread Disease
Red thread disease is one of the most common diseases of turf in the UK. The Latin name of the fungus that causes the disease symptoms is Laetisaria fuciformis. The disease is usually not very harmful and usually causes no permanent damage, but it can be unsightly.

Leatherjackets
Leatherjacket grubs are the larvae of daddy long legs or crane flies, large insects commonly seen flying in summer and autumn, often attracted to electric lights. The grubs are legless and grey/brown without a distinct head and usually grow to a maximum length of 3040 mm.

Fusarium
Fusarium patch disease is the most common disease of turf in the UK. The Latin name of the fungus that causes the disease symptoms is Microdochium nivale but in the past its Latin name was Fusarium nivale, hence its common name

Grasses
Cultivated or seeded turf is grown on arable land by specialist turf producers. They use mixtures of seed of cultivars of a small number of grasses that have been specially bred for use in turf (as opposed to agricultural grassland).