Wondering if it’s safe to eat the mushrooms you find in your yard?
Why Are Mushrooms Growing in Your Yard?
Despite how they seem to magically pop up overnight, mushrooms dont just appear.
Credit:Dean Schoeppner
Mushrooms tend to be more prevalent during wet years with high rainfall orin an overwatered yard.
And shady areas that stay damp are prime locations to find mushrooms popping up through the grass.
Theyll reappear whenever the conditions are right.
Credit:Dean Schoeppner
Dry Things Out
Reducing excess lawn watering is critical to controlling the mushrooms.
If your lawn is consistently damp, youll probably have mushrooms at some point.
Reduce thefrequency of lawn wateringand assist natural drainage bycleaning guttersand redirecting them toward areas with better drainage.
The top inch will dry more quickly, and youll have fewer fungi issues.
Physically Remove the Mushrooms
Many mushrooms are only a concern because they may be poisonous to people or pets.
Removing a mushroom and disposing of it is a quick and temporary solution to the problem.
have a go at get them when they first pop up before they release spores.
However, dont expect the problem to be gone for good.
The fungi live beneath the surface and only reproduce (make a mushroom) when conditions are right.
They can survive for years underground.
Of course, more mushrooms are destroyed by a simple pass of the lawnmower than probably any other method.
Often, the utility is acting like effective because the mushrooms go away.
However, the fruiting bodies only last a few days anyway.
Did the remedy work, or did the mushrooms fade out on their own until next time?
Most fungicides available without a pesticide applicator license are only marginally effective against fungi in the yard.
Addressing the conditions needed by the mushrooms is the best long-term solution.
