You’re Not Alone in the Fight Against Fungi
It’s just after a rainstorm when you step out onto your lawn and notice something unusual. Small, round growths popping up amongst the green grass – mushrooms. These tiny intruders have no place in your yard, and thoughts of poisonous fungi may cause you to fear for your family’s safety.
When you spot mushrooms in your yard, there’s no need to panic. These growths are common, easy-to-manage, and most importantly, harmless. Mushrooms tend to pop up everywhere and are a common landscaping problem. They thrive in dark, humid areas, and are especially common after the spring rains have ended.
We’ve asked our lawn experts to compile everything they know about lawn mushrooms in one place, so you can learn what the presence of mushrooms means for your lawn and find out how to safely get rid of them.
Don’t Panic About Poison
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.
Poisonous mushrooms very rarely grow in residential yards, and when they do, there are a few noticeable characteristics that you can learn to recognize to protect your family.
How to Spot Dangerous Mushrooms
Mushrooms come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and expecting you to recognize every toxic variety on sight is unrealistic. Thankfully, there are a few general characteristics present in most poisonous mushrooms, including:
- The area underneath the cap of the mushroom is white, not brown
- A ring around the stem of the mushroom
- Red coloring on the cap or stem
- An unpleasant smell
Even if the mushrooms in your lawn don’t fit any of the above criteria, you should still call a doctor or veterinarian ASAP if you, your family, or your pets start showing any unusual symptoms after coming into contact with an unidentified mushroom.
Some Mushrooms Can Help Your Lawn
Most mushrooms won’t harm your family, but what about your lawn? You work hard to keep your yard beautiful and healthy, and we know you don’t want something as small as a mushroom ruining your hard work.
But you don’t need to worry about that either – the presence of fungi can actually benefit your lawn’s overall health and encourage growth. Mushrooms feed off of organic waste and can break down layers of dead leaves and stems that can build up in your yard. This stops dead leaf buildup from stifling the growth of your grass and gets you a cleaner lawn.
Getting Rid of Unwelcome Growth
There are a few simple, DIY methods that you can use to get rid of mushrooms. The easiest by far is simply to mow over them with a lawnmower, removing their protective caps and leaving them to dry out and die in the sun. If you only have a few mushrooms popping up and don’t want to go through the hassle of starting up your lawnmower, carefully cutting off the caps by hand with a knife is also effective – just make sure you wear gloves, just in case!
If you have more questions about lawn mushrooms,contact our team onlineor call us at(636) 748-0734! We’ll be happy to help you fight off any unwanted invaders in your yard!
FAQs
Since fungus is beneficial to your lawn, you do not need to strip it out of the soil entirely. You just need to target mushrooms that are obstructive to your yard.
Why am I getting so many mushrooms in my lawn? ›
Too much much water in the right conditions can cause your lawn to grow mushrooms, even if you don't want them. Be sure you're leaving ample time for your lawn to dry between waterings. Another thing you can do is to make sure your lawn has the right amount of fertilizer.
Are mushrooms that grow in your lawn safe to eat? ›
Fungi are kind of neat little above-ground packages, made to fruit for the extensive world of mycelium — rooting bodies — underground. But don't even think about eating them. Snap them off, preferably with gloves or a bag on your hands.
Why do I have mushrooms in my lawn after watering? ›
Too much water can cause fungus growth, one of the most noticeable being mushrooms. Also, red/orange coloring on your grass may indicate a type of rust fungus.
How do I get rid of lawn fungus permanently? ›
Use the following steps to treat the problem:
- Use a fungicide to kill the fungus.
- Collect grass clippings when you mow.
- Avoid excess foot traffic on the lawn.
- Repeat the treatments if the fungus returns.
These sneaky fungi can grow next to edible varieties and aren't dangerous to touch. But consuming even a bite of them can be harmful.
Are lawn mushrooms toxic to dogs? ›
Most wild mushrooms are harmless to dogs, and if your dog swallows a “safe” one, he should be fine. But if your neighborhood hosts toxic mushrooms, protect your dog – especially your curious, omnivorous puppy – from the dangers of unsupervised exploration.
What are the little brown mushrooms in my yard? ›
Haymaker Mushroom
This little brown mushroom is common in yards across North America and Europe, and although it's not poisonous, it is inedible, so keep kids and pets away.
How long do mushrooms last in the lawn? ›
Even when the fruiting bodies themselves disappear in a week or so, the mycelia underground flourish as long as there's organic matter to feed on. But even though some people find mushrooms unsightly, they won't damage your lawn.
Should you let mushrooms grow in your yard? ›
Mushrooms are not harmful to your lawn; in fact they are almost always a good sign! They are a clear sign that the soil is healthy, and a healthy soils is what we want for promoting healthy lawns and strong trees. Most often the mushrooms will disappear almost as quickly as they appeared.
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.
Should I remove mushrooms from my grass? ›
Because mushrooms are merely the above-ground symptoms of existing beneficial fungal growth, getting rid of them is a temporary fix at best. However, removing them quickly may prevent more spores from being released to spread more fungi.
Will aerating lawn get rid of mushrooms? ›
Aerating your lawn can help improve drainage, which will, in turn, help decrease the moisture that encourages mushrooms. It also helps to increase the amount of oxygen that gets to the roots of your grass.
Why do I suddenly have mushrooms in my yard? ›
Having mushrooms in your yard indicates that your soil has the perfect conditions for the unseen mycelium to thrive, come to the surface, and spread. For the most part, mushrooms are beneficial. Without fungal activity to break down organic matter, the soil becomes deficient in what plants need to grow.
Is it bad to let mushrooms grow in your yard? ›
Mushrooms are not harmful to your lawn; in fact they are almost always a good sign! They are a clear sign that the soil is healthy, and a healthy soils is what we want for promoting healthy lawns and strong trees. Most often the mushrooms will disappear almost as quickly as they appeared.
Is it bad to pull mushrooms out of the ground? ›
Does pulling or cutting mushrooms affect whether the fungus will produce more or fewer mushrooms in the future? Well, several studies, some stretching over decades, demonstrate that it really doesn't matter either way.
Are mushrooms in the yard bad for dogs? ›
Mushrooms tend to thrive in warm, dark, and damp conditions. They can be found in woodlands, rugged terrains, grassy parks, and even in your backyard. There are over 11,000 species of mushrooms in North America and about 30 species are extremely toxic to humans and dogs.
