A gardening expert has warned UK households of one fungal disease that can greatly affect lawns in August, and advised how to prevent it. The fungal disease thrives in wet and warm weather, making it more common towards the end of summer than in other parts of the year. The UK has experienced its fourth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures reaching well over 30C in parts of the country. Meanwhile, there have been rainy spells with more wet weather expected, making conditions often warm and wet. 

One expert has urged gardeners to be aware of the fungal disease that thrives in these conditions. It can have detrimental effects on lawns of it goes untreated, and there are easy ways to prevent it from becoming a problem. Chris McIlroy, lawn expert at high-quality grass seed creators The Grass People, says that humid conditions are a breeding ground for fungal diseases in the garden. One that gardeners in the UK need to be aware of is red thread. 

Red thread is a nasty fungal disease which appears as reddish-pink threads or strands on grass blades, causing patches of lawns to turn red and pink. These infected blades can spread the disease, becoming extremely harmful to your garden if not properly treated. 

Chris explains: "Red thread can develop throughout the year, but it is most common in summer and autumn - particularly when there has been a lot of rain. Thankfully, the treatment of the disease is relatively simple and your grass should recover completely, leaving you with a lush and healthy lawn.

"Prevention is better than the cure. And a solid lawn care plan can keep diseases at bay." Most commonly, patches are between 7cm to 25cm in diameter. They normally come when rain has been instantly followed by warm weather. 

"You will notice needles forming that are a pink-red colour," Chris said. "This fungus threads its way through your grass and will eventually take over.

"Nitrogen is used to treat red thread. Applying a fertiliser that’s rich in nitrogen at this time of year is an effective method of preventing the fungus.

"Either granular or liquid feed is ideal for the job and will get to work on your turf fast, making it green and red thread-free. But be aware that a heavy downpour could wash away your fertiliser before it has a chance to work, so check the forecast first.

"I’d advise improving the drainage in your lawn, reducing the amount of moisture that can build up on the turf. Aerating can improve the flow of water and nutrients or you could scarify to remove excess moisture-trapping organic matter."