Mushrooms – good or bad?
During the cooler months of the year, the conditions in our lawns can often be dark and damp – the perfect environment for mushrooms. But is this a good thing or a bad thing?
What are mushrooms?
All mushrooms are fungi, but not all fungi are mushrooms. Mushrooms are the fruit of a fungus and appear above ground when conditions are right – that is, warm and humid or cool and damp. Mushrooms have a cap and a spore-bearing surface (‘gills’) that allow it to reproduce and spread by dispersing spores.
Why are there mushrooms in my lawn?
Many fungi thrive in cool, damp conditions, which promote fruiting. Mushrooms are a great sign that you have lots of organic material in your soil, which is good news for your lawn. They also help break down organic material and create more nutrient-rich, productive soil.
How can I prevent mushrooms from appearing in my lawn?
Mushrooms themselves do not do any damage to your lawn, so they are nothing to seriously worry about. If you don’t like the way they look or are worried about your pets eating them, you can easily remove them by hand. But it usually doesn’t take long for the favourable growing conditions to change, leading them to naturally disappear on their own.
If you have ongoing issues with mushrooms, it suggests that your lawn is too wet. Try watering your grass in the morning or during the day rather than in the evening to allow the moisture time to dissipate and absorb. If this isn’t enough to solve the problem, you may need to find a way to improve drainage.
Drainage and absorption of water are both impaired when soil is compacted, which encourages mushrooms. Aerating your lawn will improve drainage and allow oxygen and nutrients to penetrate to the roots of your lawn.
Finally, mushrooms love shade, so make sure you trim back your trees regularly to provide your grass with more sunlight, which allows the grass to grow and release oxygen.