While frequent irrigation and excessive fertilization may help the diseased turfgrass survive the hot summer months, it will also increase the incidence of the disease the following year. This is because diseased plants that survive continue to sporulate, adding additional inoculum to the soil that can infect healthy plants the following spring. Consequently, it is best to follow a moderate fertilizer and irrigation program to encourage death of infected plants during the summer. If the disease is restricted to a small area of the lawn, it may be advisable to kill this portion of the turfgrass with a contact herbicide and reseed with tolerant cultivars. Properly timed fungicide applications also will help suppress smut development in infected turfgrass.
Systemic fungicides are effective in limiting new infections and systemic spread of the pathogen.
However, these chemicals will not eradicate the fungus in plants already systemically infected. If the turfgrass has a history of smut, apply fungicides once in early spring, just as the turf breaks dormancy, and again in late summer to early fall when vigorous growth resumes. Some of the fungicides listed should be watered into the soil immediately after application. Consult fungicide labels for specific information on chemical rates and methods of application. Spring, fall Accost, Bayleton, Fungicide VII, Fungi-Fighter, others Reference to products in this publication is not intended to be an endorsement to the exclusion of others which may be similar.