After heavy wet periods we are likely to see mushrooms appear in the lawn. Some lawns have mushrooms no matter what kind of weather. What causes them and how do we get rid of them?
What are mushrooms? They are the fruiting bodies of fungi, like the fruit on a tree. They spread spores ‘seeds’ that spread fungi. These spores need the right conditions before starting to grow and the conditions are different according to the kind of fungi. Some need moisture and others need dry conditions. They all need organic matter.
After extended heavy wet conditions we see a new crop of mushrooms popping up. This is usually caused by the moisture going deep into the soil where there is organic matter, like a dead tree root, and the fungi begins feeding on it. Mushrooms usually are not the sign of over-watering.
How do I get rid of mushrooms? Because they are fungi, weed-killers don’t affect them. Fungicides may not be successful either because of the thousands of varieties of fungi. It’s best to knock them over with a mower or your foot and allow the area to dry, if possible. Aerating or opening up the soil can help dry up the mushrooms.
Mushrooms that are in circles, arcs, or other similar patterns may be the sign of a lawn disease like Fairy Ring or a ‘Frog-Eye’ disease. Don’t hesitate to have a Moore Green lawn specialist analyze these areas. We can identify the disease and make suggestions on dealing with it.