Are you dealing with lots of mushrooms growing like crazy in the yard? If so, don’t worry as this is quite often an issue. This is especially true if you are a passionate gardener and enjoy sprucing all the blades of grass.
Mushrooms are an unsightly issue, mainly because they ugly-looking among the perfectly cut grass. People obsessed with keeping their lawn all green and at the same growth level are dealing with mushrooms all the time.
But it is not only about their unpleasant aesthetics but the potential danger of these unwanted mushrooms. Not only do they appear plain, but they can also represent a risk to pets and children and attract odors as secondary effects.
If you are also dealing with mushrooms in the lawn and backyards, keep reading to find some helpful advice.
Mushrooms In The Lawn: Is It A Good Or Bad Sign?
Well, although the sudden appearance of mushrooms might seem problematic and weird, this is not always the case. Fortunately for you and your garden, mushrooms can’t do anything terrible to the lawn.
According to experts in this domain, the only unfortunate thing that can happen is disrupting the perfect look of the grass. In a nutshell, it is pointless to panic if you notice mushrooms growing on their own. It is essential to consider the exact place where they grow, and only then decide if you want to get rid of them.
Why Do Mushrooms Grow Among The Grass?
Mushrooms are part of the fungus world, and they are considered fruits. Like flower seeds, mushrooms’ role is to reproduce a type of fungus that can ensure their survival.
But instead of starting to spread germs, fungi come with these microscopic spores placed right on their grills and under the cap.
These microscopic spores are blown by the wind or simply travel with critters that will eventually eat them. Moreover, researchers made further documentation and found that mushrooms can even create their type of wind or a particular airflow that ensures the spores will germinate the soil eventually.
Truth be told, soils already contain lots of fungi, which will help the organic matter to decompose.
So, when it comes to the lawn ecosystem, all the falling leaves going on the ground will offer the necessary quantity of carbon and other nutrients to these fungi.
The mushrooms will return this favor and help the leaves be the soil nutrients.
Thus, to answer your question, mushrooms are a good sign regarding the wealth and health of your soil.
Since mushrooms are part of the fungi family, it means they will work beneath the surface. As such, the appearance of mushrooms can be a sign of excess moisture, overwatering, for instance.
Are Lawn Mushrooms Edible?
While some lawn mushrooms can be edible, it is always wise to double-check their species. You can talk to a field guide or a local expert, so you know if these mushrooms are safe to eat.
If these fungi are toxic and have pets and kids, you need to do everything to get rid of mushrooms on the lawn.
Getting Rid Of Mushrooms: 6 Gardening Tips And Tricks To Follow
As soon as mushrooms appear on the lawn, people will get nervous and wonder if this is the first sign of losing their perfect grass. Does it have to do with the herbicides that you just bought?
If mushrooms continue to grow among the lawn and you simply cannot stand their presence anymore, start tackling the issue just like you would solve a pest problem.
All the information below will exemplify the main tips and tricks for integrated management. Think about the lawn-care practices first, just like simple detaching and changes to the amount of water and timing.
Pay attention to check all the best tips and tricks in getting rid of mushrooms:
1. Try reducing the moisture and shade in the lawn
The first and easiest way to get rid of mushrooms is to reduce the amount of water you have been using so far. Fungus is growing more often under the grass. All those toadstools won’t become visible among the blades of grass.
Only until you offer the right conditions to make the mushrooms grow, meaning moisture, dampness, and darkness. If you want to make the yard less attractive to the growing mushrooms, use a lawn aerator to improve drainage.
You can find these unique tools in hardware stores but also online shops. You can use some garden tool pulls narrow and some cylindrical plugs to soil out the grass every couple of inches. This way, you will allow the air circulation to better, and the drainage will improve.
It is all about adjusting the regular lawn care routine so you can keep the grass drier. Think about watering the grassless, somewhere around 1 inch of water per week, while mowing more regularly.
Just keep in mind that short grass will usually dry faster than long grass. It is essential to have a schedule; switch the plan if you water at night and mushrooms keep growing. Start watering the grass in the early morning; this way, the grass will dry out before cool evenings.
2. Thin Nearby Branches
Are the annoying mushrooms still growing all through the grass? Do you notice more fungi through the shady corner of the garden?
Here is a simple trick to apply: you just have to trim or thin nearby tree branches so that the light will beautifully reach the lawn and make the environment less shady and wet.
3. Clear out all the organic material
Fungi feed themselves with organic matter, which comes from grass clippings. One of the easiest ways to discourage the growth of mushrooms in the lawn is to remove the food source or at least reduce its amount.
The principle is simple: start by catching grass as soon as you cut it down and leave only a thin layer on the ground. Once in a while, dethatch the lawn in those areas where you notice growing mushrooms.
As soon as the fungi meet any organic material submerged in the soil, just like old rood, some mulch, even wood pieces you forgot about during home construction, they will feed themselves and multiply.
So don’t forget about digging through the soil and checking the constant appearance of mushrooms.
Professionals in landscape gardening will recommend a complete removal by digging the soil wherever you notice constant mushroom growing. Carve out from 12 to 18 inches deep and 2 feet outside of the mushroom group.
Although it might seem like a lot of work and spending too much energy to eliminate the mushrooms, well, it is worth it, especially when you notice the fungi disappearing for good.
4. Remove Mushrooms piece by piece from their base.
It is not so hard as it might seem to pull each mushroom individually by hand. Their body is very fragile, so removing the fungi from their base will be a piece of cake. You can use a knife as well, but we recommend pulling out the mushrooms with their roots.
Make sure you will remove the lawn mushrooms as soon as you start seeing them sprout. If you ignore the growing phases, you might miss the ideal time to remove the mushrooms.
5. Do not dispose of mushrooms in the compost.
Because lawn mushrooms multiply quickly, especially once they have a conducive environment, you don’t want to reuse them and put them on the ground ever again.
Do not dispose of mushrooms in the compost; instead, collect them into a plastic bag, and tie them evenly before throwing them in the trash.
6. Use a homemade fungicide
When people are dealing with mushrooms on the lawn, the very first thing they will think about is using chemical fungicides. Well, if you have pets and
kids, try avoiding any synthetic chemicals and, instead, make your homemade fungicide.
Here is the simple recipe:
- Five tablespoons of vinegar (measure it per gallon of water)
- Water
Mix them evenly and pour the result into a sprayer. However, before applying this natural remedy, you need to cut down all the mushrooms from the lawn, then spray the pesticide all over.
Final Thoughts
Instead of fearing mushrooms that live in your backyard, it is better to understand the growing process and know how to act. A bit of effort will make the difference, so try picking them from the base so they won’t multiply ever again.
More than everything, avoid using chemicals and, instead, make a homemade pesticide.
Adjust the water amount, collect plant and tree remains and clean the ground so mushrooms won’t have nutrients to feed themselves. Embrace the presence of mushrooms on the lawn as contributors to grass health.