Why Do I Have Mushrooms In My Lawn?
Mushrooms are the sign of a healthy soil. No homeowner should stress the presence of mushrooms in their lawn, they will not harm the grass. They represent the beneficial nutrients that are active in the soil. By the time mushrooms are visible the fungus will have already established itself below ground.
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In addition to a healthy soil, heavy rains and over watering contribute to the growth of mushrooms. Combined with recent temperature extremes, too much water in the soil presents the perfect growing conditions.
Dead roots, tree leaves, bark or other pieces of wood on your turf will contribute to the growth of mushrooms.
What Are Lawn Mushrooms?
Lawn mushrooms are the visible fruiting bodies of fungi living in the soil or thatch of your turf. When conditions are right, typically moist soil, decaying organic matter, or shaded areas, these fungi produce mushrooms as part of their life cycle. If you notice mushrooms in lawn after rain or over-watering, it often indicates a healthy soil ecosystem where fungi decompose dead roots, thatch, and organic debris, returning nutrients to your grass.
Are Lawn Mushrooms Poisonous?
Some lawn mushrooms are harmless, but others can be poisonous if ingested by humans or pets. Many lawn mushrooms resemble toxic species, and proper identification is difficult even for experts, so it is best to treat all mushrooms in lawn with caution. Even when they do not harm the grass, mushrooms can pose a health risk if children or pets eat them. Removing visible mushrooms and discouraging ingestion is a smart precaution.
Common Lawn Mushrooms
Some species commonly found growing in lawns include:
Lawn-mower mushrooms, small brown mushrooms that often appear on well-kept turf and are usually non-poisonous
Fairy-ring fungi and mushrooms, which appear in circular or arc-shaped patterns and may alter grass color but do not always damage the turf
Other saprotrophic fungi, which feed on buried wood, dead roots, or organic debris, helping the lawn recycle nutrients
Mushrooms in lawn do not always indicate a disease. Many are a natural and beneficial part of soil ecology, but awareness and caution are important to keep pets and people safe.
How Do I Remove Mushrooms From My Lawn?
Although mushrooms are not visually appealing, they are not harming your grass. In fact, their extensive root systems help retain water and recycle nutrients back into the soil. However, despite their representation of a healthy lawn, they are not attractive additions to your turf.
Don’t knock them over, mow or rake them. This will disperse the spores and more mushrooms will grow.
Dig out the mushrooms. Don’t just pull out the mushroom head. Use a spade to dig into the ground to pull up as much as possible.
Bag the mushrooms. Immediately put the mushrooms into a garbage bag to avoid dispersing the spores. Don’t bag the mushrooms with other compost matter.
Once you've completed these two steps and gotten rid of the mushrooms, do a yard cleanup. Pick up any
How Do I Prevent Mushrooms From Growing?
Poor drainage is a common reason for mushroom growth. In addition to mushrooms, you’ll notice puddles of water and muddy areas on your lawn. To prevent them from growing in the future, there are preventative steps you can take.
- Water in the morning so the grass has time to dry before dark. Watering at night encourages fungal growth.
- Aerate your lawn so water can penetrate into the soil. Mushrooms can grow in soil with poor drainage because they have shallow roots.
- Get rid of the shady areas in your yard that you can. Damp and dark grass encourages the growth of fungus. Prune trees and shrubs where you can to encourage sunlight on those grass areas.
Mowing your grass shorter can also be beneficial. This will give your soil less shade and more chance to dry out before the next watering. However, if you scalp your grass, you’ll risk harming it to the point of no return. This is most especially the case in the heat of summer.
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