A fairy ring sounds like something found in folk tales or mythology, but in lawn care, 'fairy ring' lacks magic. Fairy rings are naturally formed circles of mushrooms or fungus. According to English folklore, fairy rings occur when fairies and elves dance in a circle, wearing away the grass in a circular pattern. In Germanic and Scandinavian folk traditions, fairy rings were believed to be created by gatherings of witches. Celtic and Faerie lore suggests that fairy rings are links to the supernatural worlds. The oldest known fairy ring is thought to be over 700 years old and is over a kilometer wide. Stonehenge, one of the places on earth most connected to energy and the unknown, has a fairy ring that is over 100 meters wide and is believed to be over 300 years old.
Symbolically, it's fascinating that in the world of everyday lawn care, a fairy ring is a problem that needs to be addressed. Most people don't like them because they cause uneven growth and color in grass. Yet symbolically, it is also interesting that we are closing a door to the other side when we do away with our own Fairy Ring!
A fairy ring can be a challenge for a gardener. Fungus lives by absorbing nutrients from organic matter. The fungi growing in the fairy ring do not actually feed on the grass as it may seem. They live on something else in the soil. Often, this is something like an old tree stump, a log, or something decomposing beneath the soil. This means that areas that were previously wooded are especially prone to fairy rings.
The best way to manage a fairy ring is to avoid them in the first place. When a lawn is first planted, ensure that all old wood has been removed. Of course, this is not always possible. If you are faced with the problem of persistent fairy rings, here are a few steps to take.
To decrease the appearance of a fairy ring, it is a good idea to fertilize your yard every four to six weeks. Ace Hardware has an excellent selection of fertilizers. Pick one that best suits your lawn care needs. Do not over-fertilize a fairy ring as this will make them more noticeable. You can further mask the fairy ring by setting your mower blade so that it does not cut so low, and longer, healthier grass will conceal the fairy ring.
One of the best methods for getting the grass to grow properly in a fairy ring is to use a root feeder. You can get a root feeder at Ace Hardware. Use it to poke holes in the lawn at the point of the fairy ring; about two inches apart to help get extra water to the grass.
While there is no perfect way of eliminating fairy rings and no chemical remedy, you may find a solution by trying a combination of different methods.
