How To Get Rid of Mushrooms in Your Lawn
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Mushrooms might be your favorite pizza topping, but seeing hundreds of them covering your lawn can be disheartening. Mushrooms can take over your lawn very quickly, ruining your property’s pristine appearance and posing a threat to your pets and children.
Luckily, most mushrooms that grow in lawns aren’t bad. They grow in rich soil and thrive in damp environments. When the conditions of your lawn are exactly right, fungus beneath the ground flourishes and grows fruit in the form of mushrooms. Still, you probably don’t want to cultivate these white or gray blobs in your yard.There are several ways to get rid of mushrooms and keep them from coming back. This guide will help you identify your lawn mushrooms, understand why they’re growing, and provide tips to get rid of mushrooms and prevent them from returning.
Identifying Lawn Mushrooms
Mushrooms come in many shapes and sizes. They may be white, gray, or various shades of brown. While there are thousands of known mushroom species, not all are common in lawns. Correctly identifying the mushrooms in your lawn is important for choosing an appropriate removal method.
Some of the most common lawn mushroom species are easy to identify due to their appearance and growing patterns:
- Death cap mushrooms (Amanita phalloides): Native to Europe, death cap mushrooms are an invasive species in the United States. These mushrooms feature a distinctive olive or brown cap with white gills and a white stem. Death cap mushrooms can be deadly if you eat them.
- Fairy ring mushrooms (Marasmius oreades): These mushrooms are known for their growth in arcs or circles—often called fairy rings. They’re tan to reddish brown and feature a knobbed cap with off-white gills. Their typical growth is about 1–3 inches tall with a cap about 2 inches wide.
- Meadow mushrooms (Agaricus Campestris): This edible mushroom has a smooth white or grayish cap and pinkish-brown gills. The nearly flat cap can range in size from 1–4 inches over a 1–2 inch stalk.
- Shaggy mane mushrooms (Coprinus comatus): Found in lawns or meadows in the late summer and early fall, shaggy mane mushrooms feature a tall and narrow shaggy white cap that turns black as it ages.
Field guides and other public resources can be useful for identifying the mushroom types growing in your lawn or garden. The Mushroom Observer is a database of user-submitted photos and descriptions of mushrooms worldwide. The National Audubon Society Mushrooms of North America Field Guide provides color photos and information about 668 mushroom species in North America. You may also be able to find state-specific guides to identify the most common mushrooms in your location easily.
Reasons That Mushrooms Grow in Lawns
Soil habitat and moisture levels are the most common reasons for lawn mushroom growth. Decaying organic matter can also encourage mushroom growth. If mushrooms grow on your lawn, consider the following key environmental factors.
- Abundance of decaying organic matter like thatch, leaves, or dead roots: Poor maintenance provides a food source for fungi. Thick layers of grass clippings or fallen leaves can create ideal conditions for mushroom growth. Heavy thatch beneath new grass growth is also a common culprit.
- Excess moisture from poor drainage, overwatering, or heavy rains: Mushrooms thrive in moist conditions. If you have mushroom growth without heavy rains, search for drainage issues that prevent your lawn from drying properly.
- Heavy shade that keeps soil moist: Shady areas keep the soil moist and create an ideal mushroom ecosystem. This is often due to thick tree or shrub growth that sunlight can’t easily penetrate.
- Neutral to acidic soil pH: Your soil’s pH levels can create optimal mushroom growth conditions. You can test soil pH with an inexpensive meter that you can order online or purchase in a local department store.
Addressing the underlying causes of mushroom growth with proper lawn care is crucial for long-term mushroom control. New mushrooms will continue to grow if you don’t address the environmental conditions that encourage their growth.
Are Lawn Mushrooms Harmful?
Many mushroom species are harmless. However, some are toxic when you ingest them. Accidental ingestion can be a concern for children and pets, or when you or a family member unknowingly transfer mushroom residue from hands to mouth. Unfortunately, toxic mushrooms can look very similar to edible mushrooms. It’s crucial never to ingest any type of mushroom without proper identification.
Indicator of Lawn Problems
While mushroom growth isn’t a direct contributor to lawn issues or poor grass growth, their presence can indicate turf issues you’ll need to resolve. For example, mushrooms often grow throughout lawns with thick thatch undergrowth or in areas where you might observe poor drainage. Such issues can also impact your lawn’s health, causing yellowing or patchy grass growth.
Mushroom Spores and Allergies
Fungal spores can trigger allergic reactions or respiratory issues in some people even if the mushrooms are harmless. Several different species (including some that commonly grow in lawns) can irritate respiratory conditions. Getting rid of mushrooms and taking measures to keep them from returning will eliminate concerns related to allergies and respiratory conditions.
Toxicity to Humans and Pets
Some mushroom species are toxic if you ingest them, which can pose a risk to curious children and pets. Children may come into contact with toxic mushrooms and later introduce toxins into their systems through residue left on their fingers. It’s best to keep children and pets away from all types of mushrooms until you can dispose of them properly.
How To Get Rid of Mushrooms in Your Lawn
Natural methods are often effective for mushroom removal and prevention of new growth. If natural methods are ineffective, chemical mushroom removal methods can address your issue. Most often, a combination of methods is the most effective way to remove mushrooms and prevent regrowth.
Natural Mushroom Removal Methods
Natural mushroom removal combines manual removal and changing your environment to prevent new mushroom growth. Begin by removing existing mushrooms from your lawn. You can pluck mushrooms by hand (gloves are recommended) if you only have a few. In some cases, mowing may be necessary. However, you’ll want to dispose of the mushroom pieces afterward.
Once you’ve rid your lawn of growing mushrooms, take steps to eliminate the cause of their growth. If your soil drains poorly, remove decaying organic matter that can hold moisture and aerate your soil to improve drainage. If mushrooms are growing in shady areas, prune overhanging tree branches to reduce shade over your lawn. You might want to consider professional lawn care if you have difficulty with lawn maintenance. Once you’ve improved your lawn’s condition, fill in bare spots with soil and grass seed to deter new mushroom growth.
Chemical Mushroom Removal Methods
You can use fungicides with azoxystrobin or chlorothalonil as an active ingredient to remove mushrooms. Use these methods as a last resort because they can also harm beneficial fungi that contribute to healthy soil. When choosing a product, search for fungicides labeled for lawn mushrooms. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to safely use the treatment. While fungicides are often effective for killing mushrooms, they won’t prevent new growth. You’ll still need to take steps to eliminate the conditions that encouraged mushrooms to grow in the first place.
Preventing Mushroom Growth in Lawns
Since disrupting mushrooms can spread spores and cause new growth, prevention is the best way to rid your lawn of mushrooms. The following tips can help you cultivate a healthy lawn that doesn’t encourage mushroom growth:
- Aerate annually to improve drainage and root health: Aerating soil provides ample drainage to create healthy root systems without leaving dampness near the top of the soil.
- Dethatch regularly to prevent organic debris buildup: While some grass clippings can be beneficial for your lawn, thick layers can provide organic matter ideal for fungi growth. Routine dethatching prevents these conditions.
- Fill animal burrows and remove old tree stumps that host fungi: Old animal burrows and rotting tree stumps contain animal waste and decomposing organic matter that can fuel fungi growth. Filling these spaces with healthy soil can help you reduce occurrences of mushroom growth.
- Maintain grass at proper mowing height: Proper grass height improves turf health and prevents overgrowth where mushrooms can grow and thrive.
- Prune trees or shrubs to allow adequate sunlight: Pruning trees and shrubs reduces shade in your lawn that contributes to ground moisture.
- Water deeply and infrequently to avoid constant moisture: Watering your lawn occasionally with sufficient water flow will provide adequate hydration for grass roots without creating moist conditions where mushrooms thrive. If you properly apply mulch, this can also help maintain the right moisture level in your garden.
Our Conclusion
Mushrooms littering your lawn are an eyesore and could pose a danger to your family and pets. Safely and effectively removing mushrooms from your lawn requires positive identification of mushroom types and various removal methods. Preventing mushroom growth is easier and more effective than mushroom removal. You can prevent mushroom growth by changing the environmental conditions in and around your lawn. Avoid waking up to a lawn full of mushrooms by monitoring your property regularly for mushrooms and addressing new growth right away.
FAQ About How To Get Rid of Mushrooms in Your Lawn
Are mushrooms in the lawn dangerous?
While most mushrooms that grow in yards are not dangerous, some poisonous mushrooms can grow in lawns. It’s best to avoid mushrooms if you have no knowledge about which ones are safe.
What causes mushrooms to grow in lawns?
Mushrooms grow in lawns because of changes in temperature, light, and water that are ideal for fungi. For example, warm and moist conditions often encourage mushroom growth.
Will lawn mushrooms kill my grass?
Mushrooms are not likely to kill grass or affect it in any way. Many mushroom types signify healthy soil, which could indicate healthy grass growth in your future.
How do I permanently get rid of mushrooms in my lawn?
You can use fungicides to get rid of mushrooms. Household products like baking soda, vinegar, and dish soap can also be effective. Multiple treatments may be necessary to permanently get rid of mushrooms.
Can you mow over mushrooms?
You can mow over mushrooms, but this could spread the spores and lead to more mushrooms. Removing mushrooms when you see them is more likely to be effective.
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