Last year, mushrooms started popping up in my yard out of nowhere (seriously, it was like they owned the place!). I was wondering: where did these little critters come from? And, more importantly, are they dangerous?
Even though I am a fun-gal (get it, fungal?), I didn’t sign up for a fungal takeover in my backyard. So, I decided to do something about these sneaky spore-spreaders.
First, I needed to understand what was attracting them. Was it the old tree stump in the corner? Or maybe the mulch from my last landscaping project?
Little by little, I started reclaiming my yard back. And now? My yard is all mine!
If you have a similar issue, stick around and I’ll share the tips and tricks I learned along the way to keep these fungi out!
First, Figure Out Why Are There Mushrooms In Your Yard
As it turns out, mushrooms have been doing us a favor this whole time! Wonder how?
Well, it’s because they feed on all sorts of stuff underground (thatch, stumps, old roots, you name it!), and they break it down into tasty nutrients which other plants can use to grow and develop! How cool of them, right?
And no worries, they won’t cause damage to your lawn. Although we must agree that they might look nasty, ruining our pitch-perfect lawns!
This might be useful: Are Mushrooms Decomposers? Learn Everything You Need To Know
Then, Learn How To Identify Them
You’ve got to be able to differentiate between the good fun guys and the bad ones.
Those that usually pop up in our yards belong to a diverse group of fungi called basidiomycota, living in the soil.
Sometimes, before the mushrooms appear, you might notice a dark green ring in the grass.
This happens because the fungus underground releases ammonia, which contains a bit of nitrogen, making the grass in that area greener (I guess the grass is greener where the mushrooms grow).
Some of them form circular or semi-circular shapes, known as fairy rings. These rings can range from a few inches to up to 10 yards in diameter.
Fun fact: English folks named them ‘fairy rings’, suggesting that these rings are created by elves or fairies dancing in circles!
But what about the not-so-fun fungi?
Well, it’s a bit of a mystery. With thousands of types out there, coming in all shapes, sizes, and colors, it’s tough to tell if they’re toxic or not.
But even though some can be poisonous, none of them should ever be eaten (we don’t want any food poisoning over here!).
On the bright side, toxic mushrooms won’t harm you if you touch them. Sure, they might cause some skin reactions, but they’re only dangerous if you eat them.
Related: Are Orange Mushrooms In Yard Harmful + 6 Tips To Remove Them
Use These Tricks To Remove Them
Getting rid of those lawn mushrooms isn’t as tricky as it sounds.
You can simply mow them down, kick them over, or give them a gentle tap with a golf club (just don’t skyrocket them up to space!).
As for those pesky fungicides, they’re as useless as trying to catch a squirrel with a net. So skip ’em.
If you’re worried about curious kids or pets, just grab some gloves, pluck the mushrooms, and toss them in the trash.
Brace yourself because it’s most likely they’ll appear again (the struggle, I know).
But Can You Make Sure They Never Appear In Your Yard Again?
Unfortunately, both warm and cool season grass types can fall victim to mushrooms.
While there’s no foolproof solution, there are a few tricks you can try to keep your turf healthy and minimize the chances of not-so-fun-guys popping up once again:
1. Remove any tree stumps and roots leftover from tree removal to reduce the amount of organic matter in your yard.
2. Make sure not to overwater your lawn to prevent it from staying too wet.
3. Keep your grass at the right height when mowing.
4. Consider core aeration to reduce thatch buildup and stimulate new growth, which can help cover areas affected by fairy rings.
5. Try masking fairy rings by applying a fertilizer with nitrogen to reduce the contrast between light and dark green areas.
I know it can be tiresome to pluck mushrooms all the time, especially if you live in a fungi-prone area. I always look on the bright side: they’ll clean your lawn and you get to exercise a bit whilst plucking them!
If you know any more tricks, feel free to share them with me!
Are there mushrooms growing on your houseplants? If so, then check out: Are Yellow Mushrooms Growing In My Houseplant Dangerous?