Question: What is happening to our lawn? (see photo)

Answer: Based on the photo you submitted, it looks like your lawn has a fairy ring. A fairy ring is a naturally occurring phenomenon that magically appears in the lawn. It can disappear as mysteriously as it appeared only to reappear at a later time.

A fairy ring usually consists of a ring of mushrooms, a surrounding circle of dark green grass and an inner ring of dead grass. The mushrooms are more commonly seen in spring or fall and are one of the ways that the fungus reproduces itself. The grass closest to the mushrooms is darker green than the rest of the lawn because it feeds off nutrients released by the mushrooms as they break down organic matter in the soil.

The ring of dead grass is caused by the development of a dense fungal mat below the soil surface that prevents air and water from moving into the soil. Thus, the grass in older parts of the ring dies.

Fairy rings usually increase in size over time and are difficult to control. To get rid of one, you must remove the grass and soil from an area that is at least one foot beyond the outer edge of the ring and one foot deep and replace it with uncontaminated soil. If you don’t remove all parts of the fungus or if you spill some contaminated soil, it will grow back.

Fungicides are available to control fairy rings, but they are effective for only about 60 days, after which the fungus starts growing again.

The most practical method of dealing with a fairy ring is hiding it. First, rake off and dispose of the mushrooms associated with the ring. Some mushrooms found in fairy rings are poisonous so be sure to wash your hands when you are done.

Next, increase the vigor of the surrounding grass so it blends in better with the fairy ring by fertilizing it.

In Western Washington, four applications of fertilizer are recommended: one in late November or early December; one in mid-April; one in mid-June (unless you are letting your grass go dormant for the summer); and one in the beginning of September.

To prevent the grass in the older parts of the fairy ring from dying, rake and loosen the soil. You might need to aerate it by punching holes in the ground with a spading fork or by using a lawn aerator.

To help water penetrate the soil more easily, apply a wetting agent, such as soapy water (using about a teaspoon of dishwasher detergent to a gallon of water). Soak the area with water each day for about a month, making sure the water penetrates deeply into the root zone.

Question: It’s May Day and my amaryllis is blooming. I thought these plants flowered at Christmas. What gives?

Answer: The amaryllis (genus Hippeastrum) is a tropical plant native to equatorial parts of South America. In the wild, amaryllises flower from late winter to mid-spring after a dormant period (resting period) in the fall brought on by drought.

Hybridized, commercial amaryllis bulbs do not need a rest period to bloom. If kept evergreen (no dormant period), they typically bloom between January and May. Blooming, however, can be controlled by forcing the bulb to go through a dormant period. Forced bulbs can be timed to bloom at Christmas, resulting in the plant’s association with the holidays.

To force a potted amaryllis to bloom at Christmas, move the plant to a cool (55 degrees) dimly lit spot and withhold water in late August or early September. After about eight to 10 weeks, water the potted bulb once thoroughly, and place it in a warm place with direct light. Remove any dead leaves.

Do not fertilize or water the bulb regularly until new leaves appear. Once the amaryllis starts growing, water it regularly. It will take another six to eight weeks for it to bloom.

Amaryllises that fail to re-bloom, following their own timetable or after forcing, might not have stored adequate food reserves the previous growing season. Inadequate light is often the reason.

Amaryllises require bright light and good leaf growth to initiate bud development. Spindly, floppy leaves are a symptom that the light is not strong enough.

When grown at northern latitudes, it is best to grow an amaryllis in a greenhouse, sun room or a south-facing window. If the latter, place the plant directly on the windowsill or as close to the window as possible. Natural light diminishes dramatically as you move away from the source.

Jeanette Stehr-Green is a WSU-certified Clallam County Master Gardener.