Laura Smith
Mushrooms in your lawn can be seen as a blessing or a curse. While they indicate healthy soil, they can also be harmful to pets and children and are considered unsightly by some. If you're looking to control the growth of mushrooms in your lawn, there are several methods you can try. This guide will explore the reasons behind mushroom growth and provide effective steps to remove and prevent mushrooms from taking over your lawn.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cause | Mushrooms thrive in damp, dark environments, with poor drainage and a lack of sunlight. |
| Prevention | Improve drainage by dethatching and aerating the lawn, removing decaying organic matter, and reducing shade. |
| Removal | Pluck and bag mushrooms before they release spores. Dig up the entire fungus, not just the mushroom head. |
| Products | Scotts® DiseaseEx™ Lawn Fungicide, Scotts® Healthy Turf Builder® Fungicide and Lawn Food |
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What You'll Learn
Remove mushrooms by hand before they spread their spores
Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of fungi that produce and spread spores to create new mushrooms. The fungus reproduces through spores, similar to seeds, which spread by wind or water to start a new fungal colony. The spores can lie dormant in the soil for a long time and grow quickly when the conditions are right. Mushrooms are not inherently problematic and can be beneficial to a lawn in most cases. They help break down organic matter and make nutrients available to the grass. However, you may want to remove them by hand before they spread their spores as they are considered unsightly, especially if you are preparing to sell your property. They can also be harmful if you have pets or children who might be tempted to taste them.
To remove mushrooms by hand, it is recommended to pull them out from the base as soon as they appear in the lawn. This will reduce the spores' ability to disperse into the environment and spread. Put the mushrooms immediately in a plastic bag so that the movement does not disperse spores. While removing the mushrooms by hand will not solve the problem, as the underground network of fungus threads will remain, it will help to cut down on future mushroom reproduction.
To further prevent mushroom growth, you can create conditions that are unfavourable for their growth. Mushrooms thrive in damp, dark environments with poor drainage and a lack of sunlight. They also feed on decaying organic matter in the soil, such as fallen leaves, twigs, grass cuttings, animal waste, buried wood, tree stumps, and dead or dying tree roots. Therefore, to make the environment less conducive to mushroom growth, improve drainage, remove decaying organic matter, and increase sunlight by pruning trees and bushes. Raking the lawn regularly can also help to dry out the yard and remove organic debris.
Additionally, dethatching your lawn can help keep mushrooms away. Excess thatch can act as mushroom bait, absorbing moisture and providing a food source for the fungi. By removing the thatch, you reduce the availability of resources that mushrooms need to grow. You can also try aerating your lawn, which allows water and nutrients to penetrate the soil rather than sitting on the grass, reducing the damp conditions that mushrooms favour.
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Reduce shade by pruning trees and bushes
Mushrooms thrive in shady, damp conditions. Therefore, reducing the amount of shade in your garden can help to prevent mushrooms from growing.
Pruning trees and bushes is an effective way to reduce shade in your garden. Pruning involves cutting back branches to let more sunlight reach your lawn. You can safely remove up to 25% of a tree's canopy to reduce shade without compromising the health of the tree. Make sure to use sharp implements and cut outside the branch collar to prevent damage to the parent wood.
If you are pruning a shade tree, it is best to prune only part of the tree top in a year to prevent sunscald. You can protect the trunk against sunscald by painting it with light-colored water-based paint. Oil-based paints may damage the bark.
For a young tree that has room to grow, yearly pruning during its first few years can help it develop a strong and aesthetically pleasing structure. For an established tree, occasional pruning may be required to remove dead or dying branches or those interfering with pedestrian or automobile traffic.
When deciding which trees to prune, consider the amount of shade they cast and whether they are producing food. You may choose to keep mature oaks and focus on removing large pines and non-food-producing trees.
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Improve lawn drainage
Mushrooms thrive in damp, dark environments, so improving your lawn's drainage can help to prevent them from growing. Here are some ways to improve lawn drainage:
Aerate your lawn
Aerating your lawn helps to improve drainage and air circulation, preventing waterlogging. You can use a garden fork or a tool like the Yard Butler, which pulls narrow, cylindrical plugs of soil out of the grass to allow better air circulation and drainage.
Improve drainage with an underground system
If your lawn is prone to retaining excess moisture, consider installing an underground drainage system. This can help to ensure that water reaches down into the soil and doesn't sit in puddles or create boggy ground, which is ideal for mushrooms.
Mow regularly
Keep your grass short by mowing regularly, as short grass dries faster than tall grass, reducing the moisture available for mushrooms to grow. Just be careful not to scalp the lawn, as this can provide the perfect opportunity for weeds and moss to grow.
Address thatch and organic matter
Thatch and organic matter, such as grass clippings, leaves, and twigs, can increase moisture levels and provide food sources for fungi. Dethatch your lawn regularly and remove any organic debris to minimize the mushroom population.
Trim trees and bushes
Mushrooms also thrive in shady conditions, so trim trees and bushes to let more sunlight through and reduce shady spots. This will help to dry out your lawn and make it less attractive to mushrooms.
By improving your lawn's drainage and addressing the moisture and shade that mushrooms need to prosper, you can help prevent them from taking over your yard.
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Remove decaying organic matter
Mushrooms thrive in dark, damp, and shady patches of grass. They feed on decaying organic matter, such as grass clippings, decaying plants, and even animal waste, which provides them with the nutrients they need to grow. Therefore, removing decaying organic matter is crucial to preventing mushroom growth.
To effectively remove decaying organic matter and hinder mushroom growth, it is essential to maintain a clean lawn. This includes regularly cleaning up after pets to ensure no pet excrement is left on the lawn, as animal waste can contribute to mushroom development. Raking or blowing leaves off the lawn is also important, as fallen leaves can provide a food source for fungi. Additionally, bagging grass clippings after mowing is recommended, although leaving a small amount of finely shredded grass clippings can be beneficial for your lawn.
Another crucial step is to remove old tree stumps, as they can encourage mushroom growth. Even if the stump is no longer visible, the dead roots underground can provide an ideal environment for mushrooms to flourish. Keeping the area well-raked and aerated can help improve drainage and discourage mushrooms.
It is also important to address any drainage issues in your lawn. Poor drainage leads to overly wet conditions, creating an ideal environment for mushrooms. Look for small puddles of water and muddy patches as indicators of drainage problems. Consider rerouting or extending downspouts, cleaning gutters, and harvesting rainwater through rain gardens, ponds, or barrels to improve drainage and reduce standing water.
By diligently removing decaying organic matter and addressing drainage issues, you can effectively hinder mushroom growth and maintain a healthy lawn.
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Dethatch your lawn
Mushrooms thrive in moist, shaded areas with organic matter. While mushrooms are a sign of healthy soil, you may want to get rid of them due to their unsightly appearance, or because you have pets or children who might accidentally eat them.
Dethatching your lawn is one way to control mushroom growth. Thatch is a buildup of living and dead grass on the soil surface that limits air circulation and inhibits water movement into the soil. Excess thatch can weaken your lawn and act as mushroom bait.
- Identify if you have excess thatch: If you have more than half an inch of thatch, you likely have a lot of organic material that can attract mushrooms.
- Choose a dethatching tool: You can use a vertical mower or a power rake to dethatch your lawn. A vertical mower cuts through the thatch and can be rented from a home improvement store or hardware store. A power rake has metal tines that pull up the thatch and can be rented or purchased.
- Prepare the lawn: Before dethatching, mow the lawn to a height of about 1 inch. This will make it easier for the dethatching tool to reach the thatch.
- Dethatch the lawn: Use the chosen tool to cut through or pull up the thatch. Follow the instructions for the tool carefully to ensure safe and effective use.
- Remove the thatch: Once you have dethatched the lawn, rake up the thatch and dispose of it properly.
- Aerate the lawn: After dethatching, it is a good idea to aerate your lawn to improve drainage and air circulation. You can use a manual or powered aerator, depending on the size of your lawn.
- Maintain your lawn: Regular lawn care practices such as mowing, aerating, and optimising your watering schedule will help to reduce conditions favourable to mushrooms.
Remember that dethatching is just one aspect of proper lawn maintenance to control mushrooms. You should also address moisture levels, drainage, and organic debris to create an unfavourable environment for mushroom growth.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms thrive in damp, dark environments with poor drainage and a lack of sunlight. To prevent mushrooms from growing in your lawn, you should aim to create the opposite conditions. Remove decaying organic matter, such as grass clippings, leaves, twigs, and pet waste, and improve drainage by raking, aerating, and dethatching your lawn. You can also prune trees and bushes to let more sunlight into your lawn.
To remove mushrooms from your lawn, pull or dig them out from the base as soon as they appear. Put the mushrooms in a plastic bag to prevent spores from dispersing. However, keep in mind that this will not solve the problem, as the underground network of fungus threads will remain.
Mushrooms themselves are not harmful to your lawn. In fact, they are a sign of healthy soil, as they help break down organic material and make nutrients available to your grass. However, they may be harmful to children or pets who ingest them, and some people may consider them unsightly.
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