How to Stop Wild Mushrooms From Growing in the Backyard
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely rid your lawn of the fungal spores that develop into mushrooms. They are everywhere, and an important part of nature's decomposition process. But you can stop these spores from dotting your lawn with mushrooms. According to the farm advisers at the University of California's Cooperative Extension, the mushrooms in home lawns feed primarily on decomposing wood and lawn thatch. Removing these food sources can stop wild mushrooms from growing in the yard. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
-
-
1
Pick the mushrooms as soon as they appear to prevent them from sending out spores and spreading to new areas.
-
2
Dig up any buried, decomposing tree roots in your lawn.
-
-
3
Remove any decomposing organic mulch. Replace it with cedar wood chip or another slow-to-decompose wood mulch.
-
4
Use the knife to remove a 1 square inch plug of grass connected to roughly 1/2 inch of soil. If there is more than 1 inch of matted grassy material, you will need to dethatch the lawn. Mushrooms feed on this material, and it may stunt your lawn's growth by preventing water and fertilizer from readily reaching the soil.
-
5
Push a lawn aerator over the grass in parallel rows (much like a lawn mower). Its spikes will poke small holes in the soil that will improve air circulation and create dry conditions unfavorable to mushroom growth.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Wild mushrooms often pop up in newly sodded lawns thanks to the increased rate of irrigation. These kinds of mushrooms usually disappear on their own after the rate returns to normal. .
A dethatcher can be rented from lawn and garden centers.
Most of the mushrooms that grow in lawns in North America are non-poisonous. However, if you think your child or pet has eaten one, place one of the lawn mushrooms in a plastic bag and refrigerate it. If your child or pet becomes ill, take the mushroom with you to the emergency room for identification purposes.
References
- Photo Credit Morgan_mushroom10_070607 image by TMorgan from Fotolia.com
More Like This
Comments
-
rdeaver13
Jan 20, 2011
As well-intentioned as your warnings regarding poisonous mushrooms may be, it's dangerous advice. Most genuinely dangerous genera of poisonous mushrooms (i.e., deadly Amanitas, such as Amanita virosa, or deadly Gallerinas, such as Gallerina autumnalis,) can take days after ingestion for any symptoms to manifest. By then, it would be far too late to intervene medically. It takes about 6 hours for the poison chemicals (amatoxins) to be broken down by the liver. So, if you think that your child has eaten a poisonous mushroom, take them to the hospital IMMEDIATELY.
