After the recent days and days of rain, I had multiple varieties of mushrooms and toadstools spourt up all over my front lawn, especially in shady areas under a large oak tree. This is the first year we have seen them come out. Will the mushrooms do damage to the lawn and will they go away once the summer heat dries up soil? Do I need to treat them to kill them?
Thank you for any advice,
Bill
Mushrooms
Mushrooms can also be a symptom of heavy thatch. It shouldn't hurt to leave them, or pick them (as previously recommended).
However, if they are unsightly and you want them gone, this is what I've done successfully. For small areas of the yard, use a hand cultivator to de-thatch the area around them and pick the mushrooms. This consists of getting down on your hands and knees and "hand raking the area around the mushrooms to pull the thatch out of the turf. You'll probably notice a bunch of smaller mushrooms when you get down closer. Make sure to water the area thoroughly and keep it moist to prevent the grass from drying out in the summer heat.
To prevent the problem next year, make sure to dethatch and aerate your lawn regularly as recommended by the extension service agents. Also, if you use a mulching mower, mow frequently enough that you do not leave clumps of cut grass on top of the lawn after mowing.
This is what works for my lawn. I hope it helps others.
Mushrooms not likely damaging
Hi Bill,
With all of the prolonged moisture we have had this spring, mushrooms are popping up everywhere. Some mushrooms in lawns may be living on dead organic matter (wood, etc.) in the soil. Since some of these mushrooms are beneficial, you don't really want to kill them. Most of the fungus is below ground and is inaccessible to fungicide spray anyway. If the mushrooms are a nuisance, pick and dispose of them. Also remove any sources of large organic debris from the soil that mushrooms may feed upon.
Additional information can be found in the K-State publication Mushrooms in the Lawn
Chelsey Wasem
Horticulture Agent