How To Get Rid Of Mushrooms In Lawn
The lawn is usually not the best spot to grow mushrooms, even for the most avid mushroom lover.
Yet, these plantlike fungi have a knack for showing up uninvited on lawns and other areas in the home where they are not wanted.
Mushrooms can spread very quickly when their spores disperse, and that means they can take over your lawn in no time if you don’t do something about the problem.
Thankfully, you’re reading this. We’ll show you how to get rid of mushrooms in lawn and also how to stop them from re-growing.
Why Do Mushrooms Grow in Lawns?
To know how to get rid of mushrooms in the lawn, it is necessary to first understand why these plantlike fungi may grow in your beautiful lawn, to begin with.
If you have mushrooms in your lawn, it could be because of one or more of the following:
Poor drainage
Mushrooms on lawns are commonly caused by poor drainage or over-irrigation.
Of course, your lawn needs water to stay fresh and green. But when you water your lawn excessively, the soil may become soggy owing to too much water.
That’s a good breeding ground for mushrooms.
Shade
Generally, mushrooms do well in cool environments. For this reason, areas in your lawn covered in shade can support the growth of these fungi.
Mushrooms can easily access organic waste that helps them thrive in shaded areas. So, when you start to see mushroom growth on your lawn, it is usually an indication that you have a very healthy lawn.
In other words, there’s really no need to worry if you have mushrooms dotting your lawn. They actually can’t do any real harm.
We’ll get into the nitty-gritty details of this in a moment.
Dead stump
Another reason for fungi growth is a dead tree. It is possible that the stump is gone but the dead roots can certainly support the development and growth of mushrooms.
Manure
Mushroom growth in a lawn can be due to animal waste. These make the soil very fertile and mushrooms love such places!
How to Get Rid of Existing Mushrooms
You probably already know the feeling of waking up one morning and suddenly, you have a mushroom invasion on your lush lawn!
For many homeowners, it can feel like something really bad has happened to their lawns.
No worries, though.
Here are some steps you can take to get rid of the unsightly mushrooms from your lawn. And just so you know, these remedies won’t cause any damages to your lawn.
- Use Boiling Water: This method is simple and one of the easiest ways to get rid of mushrooms in lawns. It is also considered one of the most effective methods. All you have to do is spray the lawn with boiling water and this will take care of any spore or fungus. Boiling water also prevents the fungus from spreading further.
- Apply Enzyme Solution: Applying enzyme solution is another effective way to tackle the mushroom problem. The solution is particularly designed to get rid of lawn fungus without damaging or destroying grass blades. It takes a few days to work, but it is surely effective. Plus, it leaves your lawn with beautiful grass blades.
- Use Neem Oil: When mushrooms are covered in neem oil, they tend to dry up very quickly. This is why using oil to kill them off is considered an effective and safe way to tackle the problem. Also, neem oil prevents the further spreading of lawn fungi.
- Sugar and Vinegar: Here’s how to use sugar and vinegar mix to get a mushroom-free lawn. Mix vinegar and sugar in a spray bottle. Generously spray the mixture on your lawn, making sure to cover the affected areas. Give it a couple of days, and watch how the fungi rot away.
- Lawn Blower: Have a lawn blower? Great! You can use this piece of garden equipment to get rid of mushrooms from your lawn. This method does not damage the lawn and will remove only the fungi. But there are a few drawbacks. You may have to use it more than once to get effective results. Plus, the cost of a blower can be quite expensive. So, if you don’t already have one, you might want to opt for some of the other inexpensive methods on this list.
- Use a Heat Source: A heat source like a blowtorch can rid your lawn of mushrooms. This method offers a more permanent solution, as it will burn off the annoying fungi and also prevent the re-growth. It is advisable to wet the lawn before applying heat to kill lawn fungus spores.
How to Prevent Mushrooms From Growing
Knowing how to get rid of mushrooms in lawn is one thing. Preventing fungi growth is a different ball game altogether.
Thankfully, keeping these spores at bay is not rocket science!
First, you have to identify the main cause of the growth, and whether it is an isolated case or an invasion of the entire lawn.
Once you’ve got all that figured out, here are preventive measures to consider:
Pull Out Mushrooms from the Root
Monitoring and controlling the conditions that led to the growth of fungus on your lawn is the first preventive step.
You notice any mushrooms, pull them out from the root.
Pulling them out from the base will reduce the spore’s ability to disperse and spread through wind or animals.
This will also prevent the risk of children and animals ingesting any poisonous spices.
Keep the lawn clean always by raking up dead grass, leaves, twigs, roots, and any waste material from it.
Fungus feeds on organic matter, so your lawn should be free from them as they serve as a food source for mushrooms.
Aerate the Lawn
You can also consider aerating your lawn when necessary to encourage airflow and dryness of the grass and soil.
There is nothing really complex about the process. In the simplest form, it involves using a garden fork or lawn aerator to make holes in your lawn.
Aerating your lawn can also encourage the growth and development of turfgrass.
Want to learn more about aerating your lawn? Check out this guide on the Best Time to Aerate And Overseed Lawn.
Mow Your Lawn Regularly
Regular mowing of the lawn is another crucial step for keeping mushrooms at bay.
By doing this, you keep the lawn tidy always and you can easily spot the mushrooms as soon as they start to grow.
This will help you tackle it before your lawn gets invaded.
Also, limit the amount of water applied to the soil. If you want to take things a step further, consider constructing an underground drainage system.
Remove Overhanging Branches
Lastly, mushrooms do well in shaded areas so you don’t want to encourage this on your lawn.
For this reason, consider cutting down any overhanging branches that prevent sunlight from reaching the lawn.
Using nitrogen fertilizer or fungicide can also prevent mushroom growth.
Are Mushrooms Harmful in Any Way?
Remember mushrooms can’t do any real harm to your lawn and that we’ll get into the details in a moment?
Okay, right here is the moment!
Besides defacing your lawn, mushrooms aren’t really harmful. If anything, they are mostly a good sign that you have a very fertile and healthy lawn.
Different species can grow in the lawn and it is difficult to tell edible ones from harmful ones. And although it is not common to find harmful mushrooms on the lawn, it is still a possibility.
So, while mushrooms might not harm your lawn, there is a slim chance someone in your household or even a pet might get hurt from ingesting a poisonous species.
Generally, lawn mushrooms are not poisonous to humans but it is a very good idea to stay away from eating them unless you are completely sure of the species in your lawn.
Another factor to consider is that humans and pets have different digestive systems. What would digest well in a human body can be harmful to some pets.
Out of thousands of mushrooms in the world, only about a hundred spices can cause symptoms when consumed by humans, and about 15 – 20 percent are deadly when ingested.
And since there are no simple rules in differentiating edible ones from poisonous ones, it is best to leave it to the experts.
Final Thoughts
That does it for our guide on how to get rid of mushrooms from lawn.
The most important thing is to figure out what’s causing the growth of these fungi before removing them and deciding the best preventive steps to take.
And if your lawn has a more serious problem like overgrown weeds, you can nip them in the bud (or root!) before they get a foothold. Click here to read our detailed guide on When To Apply Pre Emergent Herbicide.
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