John Miller
Mushrooms are a common occurrence in lawns, especially in areas with high moisture and low light. They are usually harmless and even beneficial, as they break down organic material and return nutrients to the soil. However, they can be a nuisance, especially if you have children or pets, and in some cases, they can be toxic. While chemical fungicides can be used to get rid of mushrooms, they might also kill beneficial soil agents. So, what are some alternative ways to control and kill mushrooms?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Will fungus control kill mushrooms? | Yes, but it may also kill the grass. |
| How to kill mushrooms | Pluck the mushrooms as soon as they appear, mow or rake over them, dispose of them in a plastic bag, and apply a nitrogen fertilizer to deter them from growing. |
| How to prevent mushrooms from growing | Water the lawn in the morning instead of at night, trim down tree branches to minimize shade, use a power rake, de-thatch the lawn, and aerate the lawn. |
| Are mushrooms beneficial? | Mushrooms are beneficial because they help break down dead material and return nutrients to the soil. They are a sign of good soil health. |
| Are mushrooms harmful? | Mushrooms can be toxic, especially to children and pets, and can cause symptoms ranging from mild stomach upset to organ damage. |
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What You'll Learn
Fungus control methods
Fungal infections are a serious cause of illness and death. Fungi thrive in moist environments, and fungal infections in plants can be caused by overhead watering. Fungi can also be transmitted through contaminated clothing, footwear, and tools. Fungi are among the most serious disorders of mushroom crops, damaging yield and quality.
Garden Practices
To prevent and control fungal diseases in fruit and vegetable gardens, it is important to start with disease-free, disease-resistant seeds or plants from reputable growers. Choose planting sites based on plant needs, avoiding overcrowding and poor air circulation, which can trap humidity. Avoid overhead watering, and water early in the day so that leaves dry faster. If using irrigation, drip irrigation and careful hand watering keep leaves dry. Avoid working in a wet garden, as fungal diseases can spread on wet clothing and tools. Keep tools clean and sterile with a disinfectant.
Fungicides
Fungicides can prevent fungal diseases from becoming active, stop and control existing diseases, and protect plants against fungal infections. Natural plant-derived fungicides can be an alternative to synthetic fungicides, and compost teas obtained from agronomical wastes can be efficient alternatives due to the intensive activity of the microbial community. Daconil® fungicides, for example, protect against more than 65 diseases.
Mycoviruses
Mycoviruses are viruses that infect fungi, and they can be used to control fungal diseases. Zhang et al. (2020) used a mycovirus to convert Sclerotinia sclerotiorum from a pathogen to a beneficial endophytic fungus, suggesting that mycoviruses may impact the origin of endophytism.
Mushroom-Specific Methods
To control fungal diseases in mushroom crops, it is important to combine chemical fungicides with biocontrol alternatives and correct agronomical management. Phytosanitary products can be applied to the casing layer, but evidence of fungicide resistance has been reported. Compost teas obtained from mushroom substrates may be a sustainable solution as the biocontrol agents will be perfectly adapted to the environmental niche associated with the mushrooms.
Lawn Care
To kill mushrooms on your lawn, remove the mushrooms as soon as you see the caps appear. Do not pluck or mow them, as this will spread the spores. Dig out the mushrooms and dispose of them in a plastic bag, then apply a nitrogen fertilizer to deter future growth. Water your lawn in the morning instead of at night so that excess water evaporates rather than becoming a breeding ground for mushrooms. Keep your trees fungus-free by trimming out any dead or diseased branches.
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Natural fungicides
While fungicides can help minimize the growth of mushrooms, they can also ruin your soil biota and ecosystem. Natural fungicides, on the other hand, can be an effective alternative to synthetic fungicides. Compost teas obtained from different agricultural wastes, for instance, can be used to control fungal diseases due to the intensive activity of the microbial community in these broths.
Another natural fungicide is nitrogen fertilizer, which can deter mushrooms from growing in organic matter. Nitrogen-rich soil increases organic waste and matter decomposition times, speeding up the growth and breakdown of mushroom systems and lessening the lifespan of the fungus. While it doesn't directly or immediately kill mushrooms, it will make them go away sooner.
Lime can also be used as a natural fungicide. It slows mushroom growth by raising the soil's pH levels. While mushrooms will not grow in alkaline soils, many landscape plants prefer acidic soils, so be careful when applying lime.
In addition to natural fungicides, there are other natural measures you can take to prevent mushroom growth. These include removing animal feces and other decaying matter, such as rotting tree stumps, and mowing your lawn regularly. When watering your lawn, do so in the morning instead of at night so that the sun can help excess water evaporate instead of becoming a breeding ground for mushrooms.
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Preventing mushroom spores
Mushrooms can be beneficial to lawns as they help break down dead material and return nutrients to the soil. However, they can also be a nuisance, especially if they are toxic. Simply plucking mushrooms is not enough to kill them as they are usually much larger beneath the surface of the soil. To prevent mushroom spores from spreading, it is important to act as soon as you see the caps appear. Here are some ways to prevent mushroom spores:
Remove Mushrooms from the Ground
Pull out any mushrooms from the ground as soon as you see them. If you leave them for too long, they will release spores, leading to more mushrooms. You can also mow or rake over the mushrooms, but this may increase the chances of spores spreading across your lawn.
Dispose of Mushrooms Properly
Do not throw mushrooms into your compost pile. Instead, keep a plastic bag with you and place the mushrooms inside as soon as you pull them out. Seal the bag tightly and dispose of it in a trash can or incinerator to prevent spores from spreading.
Apply Nitrogen Fertilizer
Using a nitrogen fertilizer on your lawn can deter mushrooms from growing in organic matter. This helps to create an unfavourable environment for mushrooms by changing the nutrient composition of the soil.
Improve Lawn Care Practices
Water your lawn in the morning instead of at night to allow excess water to evaporate under the sun. This prevents standing water, which can become a breeding ground for mushrooms. Keep your trees trimmed and free of dead or diseased branches to minimize shade and reduce the risk of fungal infections. Power raking your lawn can also help to remove thatch and improve air circulation, making the environment less favourable for mushroom growth.
Use Lawn Aeration or Digging for Fairy Rings
If you have fairy rings in your lawn, you can use a lawn aerator if the fungal mat is less than 3 inches (7.62 cm) thick. Start aerating outside the outer rim of the ring and work your way inward. If the fungal mat is deeper than 3 inches, you may need to dig out the soil containing the mushrooms and expand the dug-out area to prevent the fairy ring from reappearing.
Maintain a Clean Environment for Mushroom Cultivation
If you are cultivating mushrooms, maintaining a sterile environment is crucial to prevent spore contamination. Use sterilized equipment, grow mushrooms on sanitized substrates, and ensure proper disinfection of your growing area. Additionally, increase air circulation and ventilation to reduce the risk of spore dispersal.
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Lawn aeration
Mushrooms can be beneficial to lawns as they help break down dead material and return nutrients to the soil. However, they can also be a nuisance, especially if you have children or pets, and if they are toxic. Simply plucking mushrooms is not enough to kill them, as they are much larger beneath the surface of the soil. To prevent mushrooms from spreading their spores, you should put them in a plastic bag as soon as you pull them out of the ground.
To prevent and kill mushrooms, you can also aerate your lawn. Lawn aeration is the process of puncturing the soil’s surface with small holes or slices to help air, water, and nutrients better penetrate the soil for healthy grass. It helps keep your lawn healthy and thriving, and lessens maintenance. It is especially useful for lawns with compacted soil, which can inhibit the flow of essentials such as air, water, and nutrients, causing grass to struggle in stressful situations such as heat and low rainfall.
Aeration can be done professionally or at home using a manual aerator, or by renting an aeration tool. It can be done by hand or by foot with shoe spikes, with a pitchfork or spading fork ("spiking"), or with more elaborate tools or liquid solutions. Core aeration uses a manual or motorized lawn aerator machine with hollow tines that mechanically remove plugs or cores of soil and thatch from a lawn. The standard depth for aeration holes is 2-3 inches, which is important for alleviating soil compaction and giving the root system more room to grow.
The best time to aerate your lawn is during the fall, when temperatures have cooled down, pressure from weeds is minimal, and grass is actively growing. For cool-season grasses, aeration can be done in early fall or early spring, while for warm-season grasses, late spring or early summer is best. Aerating is easiest when the soil is moist from irrigation or rainfall the day before, as overly dry soil can be tough to aerate.
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Fairy rings
To prevent mushrooms from growing in your lawn, there are several measures you can take. When watering your lawn, do so in the morning instead of at night so that excess water can evaporate instead of becoming a breeding ground for mushrooms. Keep your trees fungus-free by trimming out any dead or diseased branches. Use a power rake to go over your lawn, followed by a regular rake to sweep up the debris. If you have mushrooms in your lawn, remove them as soon as you see the caps appear, as leaving them for too long will cause them to release spores and lead to more mushrooms. Dispose of the mushrooms properly by putting them into a plastic bag and then tossing the bag into a trash can or incinerator. Applying a nitrogen fertiliser to your lawn can also deter mushrooms from growing.
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Frequently asked questions
The best way to ensure no lawn damage is to hand-pick the mushrooms as soon as you see the caps appear. You can also mow or rake over the mushrooms, but this will increase the chances of them spreading spores across your lawn. Dispose of the mushrooms in a plastic bag, and apply a nitrogen fertilizer to deter mushrooms from growing in organic matter.
Mushrooms thrive in shady and moist conditions, so trimming tree branches to allow more light to reach the grass and watering the lawn in the morning instead of at night can help prevent mushrooms from growing. You can also try a homemade fungicide of 5 tablespoons of vinegar per gallon of water.
While most lawn mushrooms are harmless, they can be toxic, especially to children and pets. If ingested, toxic mushrooms can cause symptoms ranging from mild stomach upset to organ damage. It is important to check a foraging field guide or with a local cooperative extension office before assuming any yard mushroom is safe to eat.
