The Natural Solution That Helps Remove Mushrooms From Your Yard

Mushrooms might be trending as fall décor because they can add whimsy to your walls, but having them pop up in the middle of your yard is another matter. While mushrooms sprouting can be a good sign, signaling that the soil beneath your lawn is healthy and rich in nutrients, they tend to be unsightly and unwelcome additions that you probably want to remove. Plus, some species of mushroom are known to be toxic to dogs and outdoor cats. 

You will usually find mushrooms in your yard during the fall or after a rainstorm. While they will often disappear on their own when the ground dries, if you have a yard prone to collecting water or live in a humid, rainy climate, a dry ground might be hard to come by. There are natural solutions to control mushroom growth in your yard, so there is no need to spray fungicide or yank them out of the ground by hand. That wouldn't do much good, anyway, as mushrooms are a part of a larger network, and they can emerge again at any time if you do not treat the source of the problem, which is too much moisture. 

Sometimes it seems like mushrooms sprout randomly overnight, but there is a rhyme and reason for their appearance. Although they resemble plants, mushrooms are the fruiting structure of a fungus that stretches through the soil in your yard, developing a network of mycelium, which are tiny tendrils that relay information through its system. Once they have emerged from the ground, mushrooms emit spores that are carried by the wind to settle somewhere new. Then they begin to form another network that will eventually sprout its own mushrooms.

To combat mushrooms, you must address the environment of your yard. Perhaps you have received more rain than usual, or your yard does not drain properly. Maybe you have been overwatering your lawn. Whatever the reason may be, if you reduce the moisture in your yard, you can kill off mushrooms before they form. This could also conserve water in your home, which would save money on your utility bills.

We have established that mushrooms thrive in damp areas. In order to get rid of them, you need to reduce the moisture in your yard. To achieve this, cut down on watering your lawn and clean up organic matter like dead leaves and fallen branches. Having too much organic matter will encourage mushroom growth because it traps in moisture. Check to see if your lawn is draining properly after it rains. Clear out your gutters and make sure they are effectively directing rain away from problem areas where standing water might collect. You may want to consider installing a French drain, which moves excess water runoff though an underground pipe, to better manage drainage and prevent overflow in your yard.

The easiest and cheapest treatment for mushroom growth is sunlight. If your yard is too shaded, it will remain damp for longer periods of time. Cutting back branches or removing some trees altogether will ensure the sun can reach larger portions of your yard. With the sun's assistance, your yard will have an easier time drying out, and you won't spot any more pesky mushroom caps.