How To Get Rid Of Mushrooms In Your Yard, According To An Expert

Seemingly overnight, mushrooms can pop up all over your yard. If you strive for a neat and tidy lawn, you may not be too enthusiastic about their arrival. Why are they there? Is there anything you can do about these weird growths?

While it might seem like mushrooms are randomly appearing, there’s actually a complex process involved. “They’re the fruiting bodies of a particular group of fungi,” says Clint Waltz, PhD, turfgrass extension specialist at the University of Georgia. “Mushrooms appear when the environmental conditions are favorable to reproduce.”

The underground vegetative structure, called the mycelia, feed on decomposing organic matter. With ideal conditions—typically high humidity and a period of rainfall–the fruiting bodies develop. Their job is to reproduce, so they release millions of microscopic windborne spores to disperse to new areas, says Waltz.

Methods To Get Rid of Mushrooms

There’s no complicated process for getting rid of mushrooms in your lawn. “Mow them, kick them over, or use a golf wedge,” says Waltz. “They’ll decompose quickly if knocked over.” Fungicides typically aren’t effective because you can’t get them down deep enough underground to where the fruiting bodies are located.

If you’re worried about curious kids or pets coming into contact with mushrooms, simply use gloves to pick them up and dispose of them in the trash. However, remember that this will not remove the fungi underground, just the visible mushrooms. Don’t be surprised if they pop up again. As long as conditions are right, they’ll be back, says Waltz.

Why Do I Have Yard Mushrooms?

Mushrooms feed on thatch, stumps, old roots, or even construction sawdust or debris buried on your property. 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. Mushrooms actually are beneficial because they break down these materials to make nutrients available to other plants, says Waltz.

Identifying Yard Mushrooms

The mushrooms that appear in your yard are part of a diverse group of fungi that live in the soil, called basidiomycota. Some species emerge in a circular or semi-circular shape, called a fairy ring. This whimsical term originated from English folklore that claimed the rings were caused by elves or fairies dancing in a circle. The area may be a few inches wide to up to 10 yards in diameter.

With these types, you’ll occasionally see a dark green ring before the fruiting bodies appear; this is because the fungus below ground releases ammonia, which contains a little nitrogen, which causes the grass in that area to green up, says Waltz. It’s often more noticeable on under-fertilized lawns. Rarely, this area may become a localized brown spot. Unfortunately, you can’t predict if this will occur.

Potential Risks and Concerns

You may wonder if yard mushrooms are dangerous. Maybe, maybe not. It’s nearly impossible to know if the mushrooms in your yard are toxic because there are thousands of types with many different shapes, sizes and colors. However, because some types are poisonous, none should ever be eaten, cautions Waltz. On the other hand, even toxic mushrooms are not poisonous to touch. They may cause skin reactions, but toxic mushrooms are harmful only if ingested.

Can I Stop Mushrooms From Growing In My Yard?

Unfortunately, no, and both warm and cool season grass types are susceptible. While there are no guarantees, you can try a few steps to make sure your turf is healthy and to reduce the chances mushrooms will appear, says Waltz:

• Remove tree stumps and roots when taking down trees to minimize the amount of organic matter left behind.
• Irrigate correctly so your turf doesn’t stay too wet.
• Mow at the correct height.
• Reduce thatch with core aeration, as needed. Aeration stimulates new growth to cover areas damaged by fairy rings.
• Mask fairy rings by reducing the contrast between light and dark green areas by applying ½ pound nitrogen per thousand square feet of a fertilizer such as 46-0-0 or 44-0-0.