Emily Johnson
Mushrooms are a common sight in lawns and gardens, and while some people appreciate them, others may want to get rid of them. Mushrooms are the fruit of fungi, and they can be a sign of healthy soil. However, some mushrooms are poisonous, which can be dangerous for children and pets. There are several methods to kill mushrooms, including physical removal, changing the soil's pH with baking soda or vinegar, and using commercial or natural fungicides. It is important to note that some methods may kill grass along with the mushrooms, and preventing mushroom growth may be more effective than trying to eliminate them once they appear.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Prevention | Improve drainage, mow more often, remove decaying leaves, wood, and pet waste, water the lawn early in the morning |
| Removal | Pick mushrooms, rake them away after mowing, dig out the cluster of mushrooms |
| Natural fungicides | Vinegar (diluted with water), baking soda (dissolved in water) |
| Commercial fungicides | Try a commercial fungicide, but be aware that it will only kill the fruiting bodies |
| Other methods | Apply a high-nitrogen fertilizer, use dish soap (agitate with water and pour over mushrooms) |
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What You'll Learn
Pick mushrooms by hand and dispose of them
Mushrooms are a sign of a healthy yard, but they can be unsightly and some are poisonous. If you have pets or children, it is a good idea to get rid of them as soon as they appear.
The most straightforward way to remove mushrooms is to pick them by hand and dispose of them. It is important to wear gloves when doing this, as some mushrooms are poisonous. You should throw the mushrooms away in a trash bag, separate from your lawn waste, to prevent the fungi from spreading.
While this method will remove the visible part of the fungi, it will not kill the fungus in the soil. The mushroom is the ''fruit'' of the fungus, which lives underground, breaking down organic matter. The spores can lie dormant in the soil for a long time and will grow quickly when conditions are right. Therefore, it is important to take preventative measures to stop them from growing back.
To prevent mushrooms from growing, you can improve drainage in your yard and reduce shady spots. Mushrooms thrive in damp, dark environments, so trimming trees and bushes and installing a French drain can help to discourage their growth. You should also avoid overwatering your lawn and try to water early in the morning so that it has time to dry before dark.
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Use a natural fungicide like vinegar
Mushrooms can be a nuisance, especially if you have children or pets, or if they are toxic. A natural fungicide like vinegar can be used to kill mushrooms. The active ingredient in vinegar is acetic acid, which is very effective at killing mushrooms. However, it will also kill anything else it comes into contact with, so be careful where and when you spray.
To make a vinegar fungicide, mix 4 parts water with 1 part vinegar. Use horticultural vinegar if possible. Put the mixture into a spray bottle and mist the soil where the base of each mushroom was sticking out of the ground. Continue doing this for 5 days to ensure the mushrooms don't grow back.
You can also try other natural fungicides like baking soda or dish soap. Baking soda raises the pH of the soil, making it harder for mushrooms to grow. Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 gallon of water. Aerate the soil around the mushrooms and pour the mixture over and around the mushrooms so the water drains freely into the soil. For dish soap, mix 2-3 tablespoons of dish soap with 2 gallons of water. Poke holes into the soil around the mushrooms and fill them with the soapy water.
While these natural methods are effective, they may not address underlying issues like poor soil health. To prevent mushrooms from growing in the first place, it's important to maintain a healthy lawn and ensure proper drainage.
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Apply baking soda to raise soil pH
Mushrooms thrive in an acidic environment. Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is alkaline and can be used to raise the pH of the soil, creating an unfavourable environment for mushrooms and interrupting their growth.
To use baking soda to raise soil pH, start by mixing a solution of 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 gallon of water. Stir the solution until the baking soda has completely dissolved. Aerate the soil around the mushrooms and pour the baking soda solution over and around the area, allowing it to drain freely. You can also transfer the solution to a garden sprayer and spray it onto the mushroom caps and stems, as well as the surrounding soil.
While baking soda is effective in raising soil pH and inhibiting mushroom growth, it may not have a lasting effect. Over time, the soil conditions may improve, and the fungi could return. Therefore, repeated applications of baking soda may be necessary to maintain the desired soil pH and prevent mushroom growth.
It is important to note that too much baking soda can tip the balance of pH in the wrong direction. Grass will not grow in highly alkaline soil. Therefore, it is crucial to use the appropriate amount of baking soda and apply it carefully to the affected areas.
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Mow your lawn and remove mushroom pieces
Mushrooms in your lawn indicate that your soil is healthy. However, they can be unsightly, and some species are poisonous, which can be dangerous if you have children or pets.
If you want to get rid of mushrooms in your lawn, mowing your lawn and removing the mushroom pieces is an effective method. Here are some detailed steps to guide you through the process:
First, mow over the mushrooms. Ensure that you mow your lawn more frequently to let additional sunlight through, as mushrooms thrive in shady spots. After mowing, rake the mushroom pieces and dispose of them properly. Do not throw the mushroom pieces away with your grass clippings or other lawn waste, as this can encourage further mushroom growth. Instead, put the mushroom pieces into a trash bag, tie it securely, and throw it in the bin.
To prevent the mushrooms from returning, you can improve the drainage in your lawn. Mushrooms thrive in moist environments, so improving drainage can help deprive them of the conditions they need to grow. You can also rake up grass clippings and dethatch your lawn to remove potential food sources for mushrooms. Additionally, water your lawn early in the morning so it has time to dry before dark, and aim to add no more than one inch of water per week.
While mowing and removing mushroom pieces can be effective, it is important to note that mushrooms have an extensive underground network, and the visible mushrooms are just the "flowers". Therefore, you may need to combine this method with other approaches, such as using natural fungicides or improving overall lawn health, to effectively manage mushroom growth in your lawn.
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Improve drainage and reduce shade
Mushrooms thrive in damp, humid, and dark environments. They grow in dead patches of lawn thick with thatch and covered in leaves, or areas with decaying organic material such as leaves, tree branches, animal waste, bark, and grass clippings. They also grow in areas with poor drainage, such as flat yards, impacted soil, clogged gutters, or sidewalks that block water drainage.
To prevent mushrooms from growing, you can improve drainage and reduce shade in your yard. Here are some ways to do this:
Improve drainage
- Identify if you have a drainage issue by looking for small puddles of water and muddy patches.
- Implement simple changes such as rerouting or extending downspouts, cleaning gutters, and harvesting rainwater by creating a rain garden, rain pond, or installing rain barrels.
- For more severe cases of flooding, consider installing a French drain or creating a swale or dry creek bed.
- Improve soil drainage by using mature compost. If you have heavy clay soil, add sand to the mix.
- Aerate your lawn to allow water and nutrients to penetrate the soil rather than sitting on the grass. You can use a manual spike or core aerator for small lawns, or rent gas-powered aeration equipment for larger areas.
- If water is flowing down a slope, build up the soil to redirect excess water to a more desirable location, such as a pond or water garden.
- Consider adding an underground drain, such as a French drain (an underground ditch filled with gravel), to help disperse water and prevent stagnation.
Reduce shade
- Trim down tree branches to minimize shade and allow more sunlight to reach the area. Cut close to the trunk, just beyond the bark ridge, and angle the cut downward to prevent rainwater from collecting and causing rot.
- Thin out denser crowns of trees and shrubs to allow more sunlight to reach the ground.
- Keep your trees and shrubs fungus-free by removing any dead or diseased branches.
By improving drainage and reducing shade, you can make your yard less favourable for mushroom growth.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms thrive in damp, dark environments, so it's important to improve drainage and air circulation in your lawn. You can also rake them away after mowing, or pull them out by hand. To prevent them from growing, you can use a natural fungicide such as vinegar, or a commercial fungicide.
A mixture of vinegar and water can be sprayed directly onto mushrooms to kill them. Be careful where you spray this mixture, as it will kill anything it comes into contact with.
Mushrooms need warmth, moisture and organic matter to grow. To prevent them from growing, you can decrease shady spots by trimming trees and bushes and improve drainage in your lawn.
