Amanda Owen asks foraging expert about 'safe' mushrooms
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While mushrooms may be unsightly on your lawn, they are actually a sign that your grass is thriving. Fungi grows in criss-cross formations both below the soil and across its surface, consuming decaying organic waste material such as fallen leaves, twigs, old grass cuttings, animal waste, buried wood, tree stumps and dead or dying tree roots.
The extensive root system of lawn mushrooms helps soil to retain water, plus they help to break down organic waste, which in turn adds nutrients to your lawn.
Mushrooms indicate a healthy lawn and do not cause harm or disease – so it’s certainly not the end of the world for your lawn if you do have them.
However they can alter the cosmetic look of a garden which is not always welcomed, therefore there are a few simple methods to safely remove them.
Lawn mushrooms are fungus, so they like damp, shaded areas that are havens for organic waste – and these are the spots you need to look out for when targeting them.
How do I get rid of mushrooms on my lawn?
You need to correct the root of the problem if you want mushrooms to stop growing.
Have a look around your garden and identify the worst spots.
These will likely be the dampest and darkest areas, such as under shrubs, trees, or around structures like fences, garden sheds and furniture.
Clip back on anything that overhangs and causes large amounts of shade on your lawn – prune overhanging bushes and branches to let as much light onto the grass as possible.
Elsewhere, dethatching your lawn will help destroy the environment mushrooms need to thrive.
Taking a dethatching rake to your lawn is the only way to this.
If you frequently leave grass cuttings on top of your lawn, get out of the habit.
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Leaving cuttings on the grass provides decaying organic material that mushrooms love – so lowering any amount of waste will help thwart them.
Keeping your grass short will also prevent mushrooms from growing back.
Aeration can also be performed to improve drainage and airflow which helps to keep the soil and grass dry.
You can also treat your lawn with a fungicide, but if you do not address the issues that cause mushrooms to grow in your lawn, chances are that the mushrooms will just come back.
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