Laura Smith
Stinkhorn mushrooms are a type of fungus that can be identified by their distinctive phallic shape and putrid odour, likened to that of rotting flesh. They are native to North America and flourish in warm, sub-tropical and tropical regions. Stinkhorns are not harmful to humans or pets, but their stench can be overwhelming and offensive. If you are looking to eliminate stinkhorn mushrooms from your property, there are several methods you can employ. One approach is to uproot the mushrooms by digging out their egg-shaped base. This method requires disposing of the mushrooms and surrounding soil in a sealed plastic bag to prevent the spread of spores. Alternatively, you can alter the pH of the affected area by applying lime or a diluted bleach solution, making the environment uninhabitable for the fungi. While stinkhorns are challenging to eradicate, these methods can help reduce their presence and minimise the unpleasant odour they produce.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Thin, pale mushroom with a bulbous head |
| Smell | Rotten meat, feces, or a dead and decaying animal |
| Spores | Stick to flies' legs and are spread by them |
| Habitat | Moist areas, mulch, and areas with high pH |
| Removal | Uprooting, using bleach or lime (though this may harm other plants), removing surrounding soil, changing pH to acidic |
| Other methods | Raking mulch to shorten lifecycle, removing "eggs" before they mature, using fungicides or disinfectants (though these are likely to be ineffective) |
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What You'll Learn
Uproot the mushrooms
Stinkhorn mushrooms are known for their unpleasant odour, which can be likened to the smell of faeces, rotting meat, or a decaying animal. They are usually reddish-orange or thin and pale with a bulbous head. Although they are not poisonous to humans or pets, they can cause allergy-related issues and attract insects.
If you want to get rid of stinkhorn mushrooms, one option is to uproot them. However, it is important to note that stinkhorns are nearly impossible to eradicate completely, as the hyphae will remain in the soil or mulch and will eventually produce new mushrooms. In addition, flies and other insects carrying spores can spread stinkhorn fungi to new locations. Nevertheless, uprooting stinkhorn mushrooms can help to control their growth and reduce their impact on your garden. Here are some detailed instructions on how to do it:
First, put on a pair of cheap latex disposable gloves to avoid getting your hands dirty and smelly. You can also wear old clothes that you don't mind getting stained or smelly. Identify the stinkhorn mushrooms by their distinctive smell and appearance. Look for reddish-orange mushrooms or thin, pale ones with bulbous heads. They often grow on rotting organic matter, such as underground stumps, dead roots, sawdust, and decomposing hardwood mulch.
When you locate a stinkhorn mushroom, use a shovel or trowel to dig beneath it and scoop out its egg-shaped base. Do not simply clip off the above-ground portion, as this will not effectively remove the mushroom. Place the excavated mushroom in an airtight plastic bag. Also, remove the immediate soil or other growing medium, such as tree bark, mulch, or loose decaying plant material, in a 6-inch radius around the removed mushroom. There may be spores or undeveloped mushrooms in this area. Place the excavated soil or other material in the plastic bag along with the removed mushroom.
Seal the bag firmly shut and throw it away with the regular trash. Do not discard the bag with yard waste, as spores could escape and create new mushrooms if the bag opens or ruptures. Repeat this process for each stinkhorn mushroom you find. Remember to uproot them regularly, as stinkhorns will continue to appear even after aggressive attempts to remove them.
While uprooting stinkhorn mushrooms can be effective, it may not be the most practical or environmentally friendly method. Stinkhorns are beneficial to the soil as they contribute to the recycling of plant debris into nutrients that improve soil fertility. They also tend to only stick around for a few days. Therefore, some people choose to leave the fungi alone and let them run their course.
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Kill with bleach or lime
Stinkhorn mushrooms are a type of fungus that can be identified by their thin, pale appearance and bulbous head. They are also known for their unpleasant smell, which can be likened to feces or a dead and decaying animal. While they are not poisonous to humans or pets, their presence can be bothersome due to the odour and the large number of flies they attract. If you are dealing with stinkhorn mushrooms, here is a detailed guide on how to eliminate them using bleach or lime:
Kill with Bleach:
Bleach is a potent chemical that can be used to kill stinkhorn mushrooms. Here are the steps to follow:
- Mix equal parts boiling water and bleach in a large bucket or saucepan. This solution is toxic, so be sure to wear protective gear, such as gloves and eye protection. Also, perform this task in a well-ventilated area.
- Pour the hot bleach solution directly onto the stinkhorn mushrooms. Ensure that you cover not just the mushrooms but also the surrounding area, as this will prevent new mushrooms from growing.
- If you prefer, you can first dig up the mushrooms at their base and then pour the hot bleach solution over the entire area where the stinkhorns were growing. This will help ensure that any lingering spores are killed.
- Be cautious when handling bleach, and avoid contact with your skin and eyes. Also, keep children and pets away from the treated area until it has had time to dry.
Kill with Lime:
Lime is another chemical option for eliminating stinkhorn mushrooms. Here are the steps for using lime:
- Before applying lime to the soil, read the instructions on the package. Some types of lime may require you to first dampen the soil before application.
- Using a shovel or trowel, spread the lime over the patch of soil where the stinkhorn mushrooms are growing.
- Be generous with the application, ensuring that you cover not just the mushrooms but also the surrounding soil. This will make the area uninhabitable for the fungus.
- Lime is a caustic substance, so exercise caution when handling it. Wear protective gear, including gloves and eye protection, and keep children and pets away from the treated area.
Remember that while bleach and lime can be effective in killing stinkhorn mushrooms, they are also likely to harm or kill other plants in the area. They can also damage your soil. Therefore, consider the potential impact on your garden before proceeding with these methods. Additionally, stinkhorn mushrooms are typically only around for a few days, and they can be beneficial to the soil of your garden. So, it may be wiser to leave them alone or simply remove the mushrooms by digging them out at their base.
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Remove immediate soil
Stinkhorn mushrooms are known for their unpleasant smell, often likened to that of rotting flesh or dung. While they are not poisonous to humans, they can cause allergy-related issues and attract insects, particularly flies. The flies then carry the mushroom spores to new locations, aiding their spread.
Stinkhorn fungi are challenging to eradicate, as they can quickly return even after aggressive attempts to remove them. The mushrooms grow on dead organic material, such as underground stumps, dead roots, and decomposing mulch, contributing to the recycling of plant debris into nutrients that improve soil fertility. Therefore, removing this organic matter or reducing soil moisture may help reduce the occurrence of stinkhorn mushrooms.
To eliminate the immediate soil surrounding a stinkhorn mushroom, follow these steps:
- Dig up the top layer of soil: Use a shovel or trowel to remove the soil within a 6-inch radius around the removed mushroom. Ensure you also dig up any medium other than soil, such as tree bark, mulch, or loose decaying plant material.
- Place the excavated soil in a plastic bag: Secure the removed soil, along with the stinkhorn fungus, in an airtight plastic bag. This helps prevent the escape of spores and the potential creation of new mushrooms.
- Dispose of the bag properly: Do not place the bag with your yard waste. Instead, put it out for regular trash collection to avoid accidental rupture and spore dispersal.
- Apply an environmentally approved fungal killer: If the mushrooms reoccur, you may need to treat the area with a suitable fungicide. However, it is important to note that no fungicide treatments or other methods can entirely prevent stinkhorns from appearing in your garden.
While removing the immediate soil can help manage stinkhorn mushrooms, it is important to remember that stinkhorn hyphae may remain in the soil or mulch and produce new mushrooms over time. Therefore, a combination of control measures, such as removing organic matter, reducing soil moisture, and regularly removing any emerging mushrooms, may be more effective in managing stinkhorn infestations.
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Change the pH of the area
Stinkhorn mushrooms are a type of fungus that produces a foul odour and slime that attracts flies. They are usually found in mulch, lawns, and areas with bare soil. They are not poisonous to humans or pets, but they can cause allergy-related issues. They are also nearly impossible to kill, and even if you remove them, they may come back.
If you want to get rid of stinkhorn mushrooms, one way to do so is by changing the pH of the area. Most mushrooms, including stinkhorns, prefer alkaline to neutral environments. Therefore, drastically acidifying the area may cause the mushrooms to go away. This can be done by tilling in large amounts of sulfur or other acidifying amendments. However, this method will likely kill most of your lawn or garden, as it makes the area unhealthy for mushrooms. It is also important to note that changing the pH of the area will likely cause serious harm to the local ecology.
Before attempting to change the pH of the area, consider alternative methods of removing stinkhorn mushrooms. One way is to simply pluck them from the ground and discard them as they appear. Although this will not eradicate the mushrooms, as the hyphae will remain in the soil or mulch and produce new mushrooms, it may be a more environmentally friendly option. Another option is to remove the immediate soil or other mediums, such as tree bark or decaying plant material, in a 6-inch radius around the mushroom. Place the excavated material and the stinkhorn fungus in a sealed plastic bag and throw it out with the regular trash, not with yard waste.
If you have already attempted to remove the mushrooms and they keep coming back, you may need to take more extreme measures, such as using chemicals like bleach or lime. These chemicals will likely harm or kill other plants in the area and damage your soil, so use them with caution. When using bleach, pour a mixture of boiling water and bleach over the fungus or the area where you removed the mushrooms. When using lime, spread it over the patch of soil that has been producing stinkhorn fungi with a shovel or trowel. Keep in mind that lime is a caustic substance, so be careful when handling it.
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Dig up the 'eggs'
Stinkhorn mushrooms are known for their unpleasant smell, which attracts flies and other insects. They are usually reddish-orange but can also be white, beige, olive, purple, bright orange or red with black accents. They emerge from their "egg" stage very quickly, sometimes in a matter of minutes, and can generate enough force to break through asphalt.
The immature "eggs" are whitish to pink or purple, egg-shaped masses about the size of a golf ball. They are found below ground and can be identified by cutting them in half, which will reveal the developing stinkhorn mushroom. As they are short-lived and will naturally disappear quite rapidly, the best way to control them is to prevent them from growing in the first place by digging up the eggs.
To do this, you will need to identify the location of the eggs. Mark the spot where you see stinkhorn mushrooms growing and dig up the top layer of soil in about a 6-inch radius around the mushrooms. Remove any nearby round, white, egg-shaped growths, as these are new stinkhorns about to emerge. Place the excavated soil and any eggs you find in an airtight plastic bag and throw them away immediately.
It is important to note that even if you remove the visible mushrooms, the network of fungal hyphae in the soil or mulch will continue to produce new fruiting structures. To prevent this, you should remove the food source of the stinkhorn mushrooms by getting rid of any underground stumps, dead roots, sawdust, and decomposing hardwood mulch in your garden.
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