Garden master Jim Duthie explains what makes the mushrooms grow, and what you can do about them.
With our recent rainy weather, you’ve probably been noticing a lot of mushrooms showing up in parts of your lawn and garden. They’re pretty common this time of year, and you might be wondering if they’re causing any harm to your grass, and if they’re bad for your children and your pets.
Garden master Jim Duthie explains what makes the mushrooms grow, and what you can do about them.
This is the time of year when we start to see mushrooms popping up around the lawn. We’re watering more, and the recent rain and temperature extremes makes for perfect mushroom-growing conditions.
What we call mushrooms are actually the fruit of beneficial fungus that is in the soil. By the time we see them, the fungus is already established underground. When conditions are right, usually moist and cool, the fungus shoots up its version of a flower full of seeds, but with mushrooms we call the seeds spores, and they can be carried by the wind, animals and even on our shoes and lawnmowers.
Mushrooms won’t hurt your grass. In fact, they can actually be beneficial to your lawn. Their extensive root systems help hold water, and they help to break down organic materials and add nutrients to your grass.
But they can be a little unsightly in the middle of a nice green lawn. Most of these mushrooms, or toadstools as we sometimes call them, aren’t the kind we’d want to eat, but if you’re concerned about your pets or small children being around them, it’s not hard to keep them under control.
You can eliminate the visible mushrooms by knocking them over, raking or even mowing them. But that may tend to spread the spores around and lead to more mushrooms growing.
Instead, just pull them up and throw them away. You might want to put them in a bag in the trash, not in a compost pile where the spores can spread. Be sure to wash your hands after handling them.
The best way to prevent mushroom growth is to starve them. Reduce the amount of water that is making the area damp, or provide more drainage. Aerating and dethatching the soil will help.
Rake up leaves, grass clippings, animal waste and other organic material that may decompose and feed the mushrooms. Check for buried pieces of wood or dead roots .
Mow your lawn regularly. Shorter grass dries out faster than tall grass, reducing the moisture that the mushrooms need to grow. But before you mow, make sure to pull up any mushrooms and rake away the pieces so you don’t spread the spores around with the mower.
Applying a nitrogen-rich fertilizer on your lawn speeds up the decomposition of organic material that the mushrooms feed on. And while commercial fungicides may kill the mushrooms, they don’t get down into the soil to kill the fungus that produces the mushrooms.
Occasionally, you may see a circle of mushrooms. That’s called a fairy ring. In most cases, removing the mushrooms and digging or aerating the area will control the mushrooms and eliminate the problem.
The bottom line is that mushrooms won’t harm your lawn, they’re just not very pretty to look at. But a few simple steps to reduce the moisture and organic matter that mushrooms need to grow will help you get rid of them or keep them under control.
Those mushrooms growing in your lawn won’t hurt the grass, but they are unsightly, and you don’t want to eat them, since most of them are poisonous.
And as far as harvesting wild mushrooms, only about five percent of them are edible. A note of caution – don’t harvest and eat wild mushrooms unless you are experienced at identifying the edible ones. Each year, many Idahoans are sickened or poisoned by eating toxic wild mushrooms.
FAQs
There are fungicides you can use to treat mushrooms, but some very common household products also do a great job. You can use baking soda, vinegar, dish soap, and even lemon to treat the mushroom itself; it is always important to look out for grass surrounding the plant as you won't want to spray and kill that.
How do you kill mushrooms without killing grass? ›
There are fungicides you can use to treat mushrooms, but some very common household products also do a great job. You can use baking soda, vinegar, dish soap, and even lemon to treat the mushroom itself; it is always important to look out for grass surrounding the plant as you won't want to spray and kill that.
What does it mean when you have a lot of mushrooms in your lawn? ›
Mushrooms are an indication that your yard has a lot of organic material in the soil. Mushrooms help break down that organic material and make your soil more productive. If your shade and drainage aren't real problems, you can always just knock the offending mushrooms over and wait for the sun to come out.
Will lawn mushrooms go away? ›
Mushrooms will go away on their own once the weather dries out. Keep in mind that although these fruiting bodies have disappeared, the fungal mycelia is still growing in the soil. The fungus will continue to grow and persist as long as there is plenty of organic matter to feed upon.
Does baking soda kill mushrooms? ›
To use baking soda, scatter it evenly over the affected area and water it lightly. The baking soda should eventually kill off any mushrooms growing in your mulch. Mushrooms love to live in acidic environments, so applying baking soda can help combat that and make the environment hostile to them.
Will vinegar kill mushrooms in my lawn? ›
Tip. It's possible to use vinegar as another natural way to remove mushrooms, too. Use garden (horticulture) vinegar diluted with water in a spray bottle and spray the mushroom with precision. Leave the mushroom to die or you can dig, remove, and respray the spot where the mushroom came from for extra prevention.
Does mowing mushrooms spread them? ›
Mowing over mushrooms will get rid of any you can visibly see, but it will spread their spores around, leading to more growth when the conditions are right.
How do I keep mushrooms from growing in my yard? ›
To prevent more mushrooms from growing, rake away cut grass, properly dispose of yard waste, pick up pet waste, fully remove old stumps and roots, and don't let piles of compost lie around without a storage area.
Are mushrooms that grow in your yard poisonous? ›
Despite any horror stories you may have heard, most lawn mushrooms are completely harmless. That doesn't mean that you or your children should be eating them, but if your pet accidentally eats one, they should be fine.
Are mushrooms in my yard poisonous to dogs? ›
While 99% of mushrooms have little or no toxicity, the 1% that are highly toxic can cause life-threatening problems in pets.
Once mature, a mushroom can live from just a couple of days to many years. The mycelium network, once established, can last for hundreds, even thousands of years.
How to get rid of fungus in grass? ›
Water and baking soda: Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 5 liters of water. The solution should be applied to your lawn every 3 days until the fungus is gone. Compost tea: Mix 4 cups of compost tea in a gallon of water. Treat your lawn with the mixture in the early morning every 2-4 weeks.
Will Dawn dish soap kill mushrooms? ›
A soap and water mixture is an effective mushroom killer. Use about two to three tablespoons of dish soap with two gallons of water. Using your garden tools, poke holes into the soil around the mushrooms and fill with the soapy water.
How do I permanently get rid of mushrooms? ›
Use a natural fungicide such as vinegar – Dilute 4 parts water to 1 part vinegar. Spray directly onto the mushrooms. The acetic acid in vinegar will kill the mushrooms. However, the acid will also kill anything else it comes into contact with.
What chemical kills mushrooms in the yard? ›
Using commercial fungicides, such as azoxystrobin or flutolanil, can be used for large outbreaks. These must be applied several times by a professional.
How do you kill mushrooms in landscaping? ›
Mulch retains moisture, so it is common for mushrooms to pop up in mulch. A trick you can do is to mix one tablespoon of baking soda in one gallon of water and then spray the mixture over the mulch. This should help kill any mushrooms that are growing.
Does dish soap kill mushrooms? ›
Homeowners can create a mixture using dish soap and water to kill and prevent the regrowth of mushrooms.
How do I get rid of death cap mushrooms in my yard? ›
Also, mow your lawn as low as you can as the new clusters appear to help control the death caps. Don't let any of the caps begin to show, otherwise you have just compounded the problem. Mowing caps and releasing their spores will extend control of the mushrooms even further.
Will vinegar kill my grass? ›
The primary danger of using vinegar as a weed killer is that it will also kill your lawn or garden plants if you're not careful. If you spray too much vinegar on your yard, or if there is a light wind blowing when you do so, some of it might drift onto neighboring plants (including grass) and damage them as well.
