What to Do About Lawn Mushrooms

Mushrooms belong in many places. On a pizza. In a healthy omelette. Sautéed in a delicious dish of chicken marsala. Where mushrooms don’t belong? That would be in your lawn. Lawn mushrooms are an eyesore, and they might even be dangerous if you have curious pets or kiddos in your household. That begs the question: Why are mushrooms growing on my lawn?

We’ll explore that question and tell you how to get rid of these fungal fiends once and for all.

Why Are Mushrooms Growing in My Lawn?

In case you skipped mushroom day in your high school biology class, mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of certain fungi. The actual fungus lives underground. They come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colours. Many different kinds of mushrooms thrive in Canada, including toadstool mushrooms (Agaricus), inky caps (Coprinus), and fairy ring mushrooms (Marasmius oreades).

Mushrooms do best in certain conditions, which may explain why they are popping up on your lawn. Here’s what mushrooms need to develop and thrive:

• Moisture: Mushrooms thrive in moist environments and often appear during prolonged periods of wet weather.
• Organic matter: Mushrooms snack on decaying organic matter in the soil, such as old tree stumps, roots, and thick layers of thatch.
• Shade: Lawns with dense tree canopies or nearby structures that block sunlight create the ideal condition for mushrooms growing in the grass.
• Soil pH: Certain mushrooms favour specific soil pH levels. While some shrooms are drawn to acidic soils, others thrive in neutral or alkaline conditions.
• Seasons: Mushrooms tend to make their appearance during cool, damp periods in the spring and fall.

Are Mushrooms in a Lawn Good or Bad?

Mushrooms generally don’t harm grass or other yard plants. In fact, they can actually help by breaking down organic matter in your lawn and turning it into nutrients.

That doesn’t mean you should just leave mushrooms and let them continue to sprout throughout your lawn. Most homeowners consider them an eyesore, and certain mushrooms can be toxic if ingested by curious toddlers or your furry friends. While some toxic mushrooms only cause mild stomach troubles, others can be much more dangerous.

Remember that mushrooms are the reproductive organs of fungi. In order to spread, they release spores. Leaving mushrooms in your yard is a good way to get even more mushrooms growing in the grass.

Your best course of action when you notice lawn mushrooms is to get rid of them.

How to Manage Mushrooms Growing in Grass

If the fungi have come out to play in your lawn, it’s time to take action. First, you’ll want to kick out your uninvited lawn guests, but don’t stop there. To make sure the mushrooms don’t return, you’ll also need to address the underlying conditions that are causing them to grow in your yard.

Manually Remove the Mushrooms

Step one is to manually pluck the mushrooms from the ground or mow over them. If you choose the mowing option, put on a pair of garden gloves and pick up and dispose of any pieces of mushrooms that remain, so their spores don’t spread throughout your lawn.

Apply Fungicide

If you’ve got a rowdy crowd of shrooms taking over your lawn, consider purchasing a fungicide from your local home improvement or gardening store. Look for fungicides specifically designed for mushroom control and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.

Don’t Overwater Your Lawn

Mushrooms need lots of moisture to thrive, so don’t give them what they want. Avoid overwatering your lawn. Fix any drainage problems, and aerate your lawn regularly so your soil can absorb water easily.

Remove Feeding Sources

Fungi enjoy snacking on organic material in your lawn. If you have old tree stumps or lots of thatch in your lawn, get rid of them. Rake leaves regularly in the fall, and don’t leave grass clippings on your lawn after mowing.

Improve Sunlight

Shade is another key ingredient in the development of mushrooms on your lawn. While you probably don’t want to cut down your trees, you can invite in more sunlight by regularly pruning and trimming them. The same goes for your shrubs.

Preventing Lawn Mushrooms

Avoiding the shroom bloom. When mushrooms appear in your lawn, it means your soil is already producing fungi, which you can’t see. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. A certain amount of fungus is good for your soil. At the same time, you don’t want the condition to get so bad that you have mushrooms growing in your grass after every rain shower.

A good dose of prevention can keep your lawn mushroom-free for good. Much of the advice we provided in the previous sections to get rid of lawn mushrooms can also help prevent mushroom growth. That includes avoiding overwatering, trimming your trees, dethatching your lawn, and addressing any drainage problems that could cause water to pool in your yard.

The best way to prevent mushrooms from taking over your lawn is to simply perform proper lawn care and maintenance:

• Mow your lawn to the proper height
• Fertilize regularly
• Aerate regularly
• Overseed to keep your grass dense and healthy
• Rake leaves and thatch off your lawn

Need Help Getting Rid of Lawn Mushrooms?

Are mushrooms bad for grass? No, not really, but they’re certainly not good for the appearance of your lawn and the curb appeal of your home. If you’d rather see mushrooms on your pizza and not on your lawn, taking care of the problem yourself requires time, effort, and consistent lawn care and maintenance. If you don’t have the time or desire to handle ongoing lawn care and maintenance, call in the experts.

The Grounds Guys® are your local experts when it comes to lawn care and landscape services. Our teams, located throughout Canada, know the best way to get rid of your fungal infestation. We also provide residential lawn care services to ensure that lawn mushrooms don’t return. Ask about our maintenance and seasonal services, including dethatching, aeration, fertilization, tree trimming, and more.

Ready to say adios to lawn mushrooms? Request a free estimate today!

This article is intended for general guidance only and is not applicable to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your property and situation. The Grounds Guys are not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of advice and/or guidance derived from its blog content.

The Grounds Guys services may vary by location. Please contact The Grounds Guys franchise nearest you for more information.