Sports Turf Agronomy Advice - October 2025
The shift from summer drought conditions to cooler autumnal days with heavy ground dews and decreasing light seems to have happened almost instantly.
In the current climatic period, we seem to experience the transition from season to season much less than before, with changes seeming much more extreme. It is this quick turn is weather pattern that means turf managers need to be prepared, as conditions can soon become increasingly favourable for disease development, at a time when growth rates are on a decline. September featured a significant amount of rainfall, with some reporting more rainfall in one month than they’d had over the last 6! This has meant that ground conditions have become softer and more suitable for essential maintenance and recovery work to be carried out.
September was also the month of the 3rd Groundsfest, the trade show combines indoor business and education opportunities with outdoor demonstrations, this has grown, year on year and now reports to be one of the UK’s largest industry tradeshows.
As weather conditions change, October can be a high disease pressure month. Cooler temperatures with increased leaf and soil wetness mean that it’s important to constantly monitor the local environmental conditions with a view of the site’s previous history and patterns in disease outbreaks; knowing which areas are key indicators can help massively to stay ahead of damaging disease outbreaks. As conditions become more conducive for disease development being aware of historic turf responses to certain weather conditions form a central part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach.
Looking back at the figures from September, GP further decreased from 91.5% down to below 80%, although this is still growing conditions, we can clearly see it is now on a downward trajectory. Max temperatures are now in the mid-teens with lows starting to drop into single figures. Rainfall was up to 140mm which has refreshed many dry areas. Weekly nitrogen requirements have dropped to below 4kg/ha, showing that inputs need to be reduced in line with this decrease in requirements.
Click here to review weather data in your region for September. To keep up to date with the weather throughout October visit https://academy.agrovista.co.uk/category/weather
The long term predicted forecast for October has daytime temperatures near or slightly above seasonal norms; nights are mild for much of the month but with potential for frost later in calmer spells. Unsettled weather likely, especially in northern/western areas. Atlantic systems bringing rain and wind. Drier spells possible, especially in the south. Increased risk of windier conditions, particularly when deep lows pass, with some storm systems more likely later in month.
Disease management
For many, the focus this month is Microdochium nivale (microdochium patch) control. There may still be some signs of Anthracnose from late summer outbreaks that still require recovery, but as maintenance practices alter, raising heights of cut, reduced mowing etc… many of the stresses that contribute to this disease are eased. Conditions in October are typically ideal for Microdochium nivale outbreaks and predicting when these outbreaks may occur is challenging.
Therefore, is you suffer from an outbreak, it is important to be aware it is not necessarily something that hasn’t been done or could have been done differently. Rather, it is that conditions are conducive for the development of the disease. Gaining an understanding of what contributes to disease pressures reaching tipping point on your own site allows better informed decisions when selecting and timing any of the applications aimed at counteracting disease pressure. These may be, fungicidal, nutritional or plant response applications.
Fungicide technology is only one part of an IPM approach and increasingly it will be other applications which will become more in focus as tools in which to reduce disease outbreaks and severity. Morning dews can lead to an increase in leaf wetness in October and this additional moisture on the surface can be the perfect vehicle for pathogens. Therefore, utilising dew dispersant technology can be a useful tool.
Expectations need to be set to a realistic level in relation to longevity of the products compared to when using them in cool months when growth potential is low. When frequent mowing is still taking place, the longevity is going to be relatively short, however this can still be long enough to reduce the level of leaf wetness long enough to get through a high disease pressure period.
Key actions:
- Use a programmed approach to maximise plant health, through balanced nutrition of all plant essential elements not just NPK as part of an IPM plan.
- Raise cutting heights to minimise stress with a reduction in stress invoking practices such as top dressing which weaken and damage leaf blades.
- Ensure cutting units are sharp to provide a clean cut to minimise weakened points for pathogen attack.
- Well timed aeration to maintain movement of water away from the surface and down through the profile. (Caution when tining around Leatherjacket hatch periods)
- Reduce periods of leaf blade wetness by removing dews or utilising dew dispersant technology (apply to a dry leaf)
- Monitor disease forecasts via resources such as Syngenta’s Greencast
- Use biostimulants and plant response promoters to maximise plant health.
- Take advice on and construct a preventative fungicide application plan, using historic data, live weather forecasts and site-specific conditions, for applications ahead of when conditions favour the development of disease.
Pests
October is the key time to make Acelepryn applications for control of leatherjackets. To aid effective timing of treatment, ensure the product is in the soil around a month after recording sightings of them flying on the wing. Where chemical control is not authorised, entomopahogenic nematodes can be applied with warm soil temperatures and available moisture being ideal conditions to get the best out of an application. The entomopahogenic nematodes can also be used in conjunction with Acelepryn for more effective control. You can see the latest advice on application from Syngenta here.
Tom Wood
B.Sc (Hons) | MBPR | FQA