Toadstools can appear in established turf due to the soil environment in which they live. Common causes include the existence of organic debris under the lawn or active spores waiting for the right conditions. To identify whether mushrooms and toadstools are going to appear in a lawn, a knife can be used to check under the buried debris for infected areas.
To reduce the chances of them appearing, lawns should be scarified regularly. This removes thatch and debris underneath, which are the main causes of mushroom and toadstool growth. They should also be aerated to oxygenate the soil profile and drain water from the surface. Toadstools can be removed by hand or by brushing them off. Alternatively, they can be cut with a lawn mower with a grass box attached to collect them in. Rotary mowers are usually better for this task. They spring up when conditions are just right for the spores to grow, the right moisture and temperature.
And they disappear again within a few days just as quickly. People often ask us what to do with them, why they have appeared and whether they are harmful to the lawn, children or pets. But you can just brush them away if you would like them gone. The majority of toadstools are not poisonous, but animals are very unlikely to eat anything which is. Mushrooms and toadstools are types of fungi.
You expect to see them growing in woodland and wild places but they can come as a surprise when they appear in your lawn. However, believe it or not, they are a sign that your lawn and the soil beneath it are a healthy ecosystem. Let me explain. What are fungi for? Fungi are living things, they are neither plants nor animals but have a class all of their own. There are millions of different species of fungi in the world, including the microscopic ones that cause lawn diseases such as redthread and fusarium patch.
Some fungi are easy to see, others are invisible to the naked eye. These amazing organisms have a big job to do in the world. They help to break down organic waste and turn it into plant food. In other words they are recyclers. Some fungi, known as, actually team up with plants.
Fungal lawn diseases can damage the grass in your lawn; whereas mushrooms and toadstools assist with the breakdown of organic matter in your lawn, thus making the soil richer and full of nutrients.
Mushrooms and toadstools are actually a good sign that your lawn is healthy and thriving. They are part of the growing environment and an integral part of the natural ecosystem. This can be a problem if you have small children who like to get into everything, or curious pets. So, if unsightly mushrooms are ruining the smoothness of your lawn, or you have pets or children, you probably want to get rid of mushrooms and toadstools completely.
This is due to the way they grow and spread. The underground part of the fungus can remain dormant in your soil for years, before coming to life when the conditions are right. The surface part of the fungus that you see — the mushroom or toadstool head — is only a small part of the fungus, and will usually only last for a few days.
While you may not be able to eradicate the fungal structures completely, you can make your lawn an unattractive place for fungi to grow. Here are a few strategies you can try to correct the problems in your lawn leading to mushroom and toadstool growth.
If you regularly find mushrooms growing in certain areas, check to see if they are overly shady. Sunshine helps keep mushrooms and toadstools in check, as they much prefer to grow in the shade. Trim back trees or shrubs that are overhanging the lawn, or thin out the branches to allow more sunlight through. This will also allow more air to circulate in problem areas.
If your lawn often has standing water or remains damp after rainy spells, your soil might be compacted. Compacted soil can cause moisture build-up in your lawn, leading to the damp, sodden conditions that mushrooms love.
Aerating your lawn will improve drainage problems, allow more oxygen to get to the roots of the grass and decrease the moisture that mushrooms love. Click here to find out the best way to aerate your soil and prevent compaction.
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