Appeared in The Daily Sun , Sunday, May 2, 1999. Look for these articles every week. Fairy rings, I believe, were so named because it was said that this was where fairies danced at night, killing the grass.
Some people have vivid imaginations.
These rings can sprout mushrooms, which probably encouraged this wild explanation. These rings are actually caused by a fungus growing underground. There is no chemical we can spray to kill it. Bermuda grass is a little resistant, but others are susceptible. Instead, spike the dead area deeply with a pitch fork.