Michael Davis
Mushrooms in gardens can be unsightly and even dangerous, especially if you have children or pets who might be tempted to eat them. While mushrooms are a sign of a healthy yard, breaking them down and preventing their growth can be beneficial if you want to keep your garden mushroom-free. Mushrooms need warmth, moisture, and organic matter to prosper, so improving yard drainage, reducing shade, and removing decaying organic material can help prevent their growth. To get rid of existing mushrooms, you can mow, rake, or dig them out, being sure to remove as much of the root structure as possible and dispose of them properly to prevent the spread of spores.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Removal methods | Digging out with a shovel or spade |
| Mowing over them | |
| Raking | |
| Hand-picking or plucking | |
| Using a small spade or garden trowel | |
| Applying a mix of 5 tablespoons of vinegar per 1 gallon of water | |
| Applying a nitrogen fertilizer | |
| Using a power rake | |
| Applying a fungicide | |
| Applying a mixture of 1 gallon of water and 1-2 tablespoons of liquid dish soap | |
| Disposal methods | Do not add to compost or garden waste bin |
| Dispose in a plastic bag and seal | |
| Throw in the trash |
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What You'll Learn
Pluck mushrooms as soon as they appear
Mushrooms in your garden can be a nuisance, especially if you have children or pets who might accidentally ingest them. While mushrooms are beneficial to your lawn as they break down dead material and return nutrients to the soil, you might not want them popping up through the grass. Mushrooms need warmth, moisture, and organic matter to grow.
To prevent mushrooms from taking over your garden, it is important to act quickly as soon as you spot them. Plucking mushrooms as soon as they appear is an effective way to keep them at bay. Here are some reasons why:
- Mushrooms produce spores: Mushrooms are the above-ground fruit of fungi. They pop up, produce spores, and then the fruit dies after a few days. If you leave them for too long, they will release spores, which will lead to more mushrooms.
- Prevent spreading: By plucking mushrooms as soon as they appear, you can prevent them from spreading their spores across your lawn. Simply pull them out of the ground, wearing gloves to minimize the risk of contamination, especially if dealing with poisonous species.
- Proper disposal: After plucking the mushrooms, dispose of them properly. Do not toss them into your compost pile or garden waste bin. Instead, put them into a plastic bag as soon as you pull them out. Once the bag is full, tie it up tightly and throw it into a trash can or incinerator.
- Target obstructive mushrooms: Not all mushrooms need to be removed. You can simply target the mushrooms that are obstructive or unsightly in your garden. Mushrooms often indicate a healthy yard, and they can provide additional nutrients to your soil.
In addition to plucking mushrooms, you can also improve your garden's drainage and reduce shade to make the environment less favourable for mushroom growth. Mushrooms thrive in damp and humid places, so improving drainage will reduce the amount of moisture available for fungi to thrive on. Trimming tree branches and thinning out denser crowns of trees can reduce shade and allow more sunlight to reach your garden, making it less inviting for mushrooms.
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Dispose of mushrooms properly
Mushrooms are the above-ground fruit of fungi. They can be spherical or tall and thin, with or without caps, and come in shades of brown, white, or grey, as well as red, orange, green, blue, and purple. While mushrooms can be a sign of a healthy yard, they may need to be removed if they are obstructive or if there are young children or pets that might eat them.
Pick and Dispose
If you see mushrooms growing in your garden, you can simply pick them and throw them away. Even the most poisonous mushrooms are safe to touch, although you may want to wear gloves if you find them unpleasant. Put the mushrooms in a trash bag, tie it up, and throw it in the bin. Do not dispose of mushrooms with your grass clippings or other lawn waste, as this could encourage further growth.
Dig and Dispose
If you want to remove mushrooms and prevent them from growing back, you will need to dig them out. Use a shovel or spade to dig out the cluster of mushrooms, going at least 12 inches down to remove as much of the fungus as possible. Then, dispose of the mushrooms in a trash bag as described above.
Mow and Dispose
If the mushrooms are growing in your lawn, you can mow over them, pick up the pieces, and dispose of them in a trash bag.
Yard Cleanup
To prevent mushrooms from growing, you can do a major yard cleanup. Remove dead tree roots, old mulch, decaying leaves, wood, and pet waste. Rake up grass clippings and dethatch your yard. After removing the mushrooms, you can apply a mix of 5 tablespoons of vinegar per 1 gallon of water to the areas where mushrooms were growing to prevent further growth.
It is important to note that mushrooms will disappear on their own with a bit of sunshine, drier conditions, or cold weather.
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Improve yard drainage
Mushrooms in your garden are often a sign of a healthy yard, as they break down decaying leaves and other organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil. However, if you find them unsightly, or are worried about children or pets consuming them, there are several ways to get rid of them.
Firstly, you can simply mow or rake over them, and then dispose of the mushroom pieces in a plastic bag. Be careful with this method, as it can increase the chances of spores spreading across your lawn. To avoid this, you can dig out the mushrooms with a shovel, ensuring you dig at least 12 inches down to remove as much of the fungus as possible.
To prevent mushrooms from returning, you can apply a DIY fungicide of 5 tablespoons of vinegar per 1 gallon of water to the affected areas. You can also apply a nitrogen fertilizer to deter mushrooms from growing in organic matter. Watering your lawn in the morning instead of at night can also prevent mushrooms, as the sun will help excess water evaporate.
Now, here are some tips to improve yard drainage:
Aeration
Aeration is an important step in improving drainage, especially if the soil is compacted from people walking or playing on the lawn. Compacted soil cannot absorb water well, leading to poor drainage. To correct this, use a rake to loosen up the soil, mulch, or compost, which will help with water absorption.
Amend the Soil
If your soil is clay-heavy, it can become compacted and hinder drainage. Amending the soil with a top dressing of materials like sand, loam, and compost can help improve drainage as these materials allow water to pass through more easily.
Build a French Drain
A French drain, or channel drain, is a trench dug up to 2 feet deep and lined with gravel. A perforated pipe is placed on the gravel, and the trench is backfilled and covered with soil or stones. The location of a French drain is critical, as it needs to be placed so that drainage can flow away in a downward fashion due to gravity.
Install a Dry Creek Bed or Rain Garden
Sometimes, water flowing into your yard cannot be prevented. In these cases, adding a rain garden or dry creek bed can be a practical and aesthetically pleasing solution. These features are designed to catch, retain, and slowly drain water, helping to transform a soggy lawn into a beautiful yard.
Build a Retaining Wall
If your drainage issues are due to runoff from a neighboring property, building a retaining wall can help prevent water from reaching your lawn. It can also shore up compromised or weakened slopes.
Mound Organic Material Over Low Areas
If your yard has sunken areas that hold water and are slow to drain, you can mound organic material such as topsoil mixed with compost or rotted manure over these low spots. Add enough material to create a slight rise compared to the surrounding soil level. Once the low spot has been stabilized, sow grass seed and cover with a lightweight material to protect the seed.
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Reduce shade
While shade in your garden can be a good thing, providing a respite from the harsh summer sun, too much shade can be detrimental to your plants. Here are some ways to reduce shade in your garden:
Pruning
Pruning is one of the easiest ways to reduce shade. By cutting away branches, you can allow more sunlight to reach your plants. When pruning, it is important to use sharp implements and make cuts outside the branch collar to prevent damage to the parent wood. You can reduce the height of the tree by up to a third, but be sure to balance the cuts so the tree is not lopsided. Most trees just need to have broken and dead wood removed to let in sufficient light. You can also thin out existing shrubs to increase light and reduce shade.
Tree Removal
In some cases, you may need to consider removing a tree to reduce shade. This is a drastic measure, as it reduces wildlife populations and changes the landscape. However, it may be necessary if the tree is blocking a significant amount of sunlight. If you are unsure, watch the play of light over a few days to see which tree is the main culprit, and consult a professional arborist for advice.
Garden Design
The way you design your garden can also impact the amount of shade. When planting, put taller plants at the back of the bed and graduate the height of the plants towards the front. This allows light to reach the shorter plants and gives a better view of all the selections. You can also replace sun-loving plants with those that thrive in partial shade, such as hostas, astilbes, ferns, and some sedges.
Temporary Shade Structures
If you only need to reduce shade in certain areas or for certain times of the year, you can create temporary shade structures. Shade cloth is a versatile and affordable material that can be used to create custom sun shade structures. You can also repurpose old sheets or curtains by draping them over existing structures or creating makeshift canopies. Umbrellas are another option, offering a versatile and portable solution that can be easily moved to follow the sun's path.
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Remove decaying organic material
Mushrooms are the above-ground fruit of fungi that break down decaying organic matter and return nutrients to the soil. While they are beneficial to your lawn, you might want to get rid of them if you have children or pets, especially if they are toxic species.
To remove decaying organic matter and prevent mushrooms from growing, you can do the following:
- Remove dead tree roots, old mulch, decaying leaves, wood, and pet waste.
- Rake up grass clippings and dethatch your yard.
- After pulling out the mushrooms, apply a mix of 5 tablespoons of vinegar per 1 gallon of water to the areas that had mushrooms.
- Apply a nitrogen fertilizer to deter mushrooms from growing in organic matter. The fertilizer will quicken the decomposition of the matter, leaving the mushrooms with nothing to feed off of.
- Mow over the mushrooms and pick up the pieces, placing them in a trash bag.
- Water your lawn in the morning instead of at night so that the sun can help excess water evaporate.
- Trim down tree branches to minimize shade and prevent rot.
Remember, mushrooms are a sign of a healthy yard, and they do not cause damage to the grass, soil, or nearby plants. If you want to remove them, it is important to do so safely and effectively to prevent the spread of spores.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms are the above-ground fruit of fungus and can be removed by simply picking them off the ground or plucking them from the lawn. However, it is important to wear gloves and dispose of them in a plastic bag in an outside bin to prevent the spread of spores.
Mushrooms need warmth, moisture, and organic matter to prosper. Therefore, to prevent mushrooms from growing, you can reduce shade, improve drainage, and remove decaying organic matter such as dead leaves, tree branches, animal waste, bark, and grass clippings.
Some natural remedies to get rid of mushrooms include using a nitrogen fertilizer, a mix of vinegar and water, or a mixture of liquid dish soap and water.
Some tools that can be used to get rid of mushrooms include a shovel, spade, rake, or power rake.
Mushrooms grow in gardens due to moist conditions combined with high levels of nitrogen from decaying organic material in the soil. Mushrooms are beneficial as they break down organic matter and return nutrients to the soil.
