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I also have mushrooms lately. My concern is will they hurt my dogs or cats. They use that side of the yard to do their morning business. I keep it clean everyday. But my pets do sniff around the area. They don't seem interested with the mushrooms, but could it cause any type of infections.
I asked that same question a few weeks ago of a great NPR radio garden talk show host for 'You Bet Your Garden'. We have mushrooms growing up in the yard because they are busy eating up the wood left in the roots of a big old maple tree that was destroyed in a storm and had to be cut down. He said that if you sprinkle wood ashes in the areas where the mushrooms grow the pH will be changed and they won't grow. Just use the ashes from a bonfire or fire pit or fireplace. It is a safe, nontoxic method that shouldn't hurt any animals or toads/frogs or birds, etc. This guy is really into organic safe gardening.
The mushrooms will go away by themselves when the rotting roots from the tree finish decomposing. They really pose no threat other than they are un-sightly. if you have a dog or cat they will leave them alone generally animals know instinctively what is good and bad for them.
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How do I kill wild mushrooms in my lawn?
By Deb
Generally, aerate and dry out the area. Remove branches that shade it, the source of the fungus growth, and reduce water levels. More here: www.ehow.com/
For the first time, toadstools or mushrooms are growing in patches of the lawn. How do we get rid of them?
By Lynn from Central WA
These are called fairy rings. If you google that term, you will find lots of information. Apparently, it can really damage your lawn before you know it and they're difficult to get rid of, lots of digging involved. Good luck! (08/22/2009)
Get a fungicide from a nursery or home center. Spray a week apart, I think. I used spray paint to mark where they were, because you have to spray enough to kill the spores. The paint eventually gets mowed off, but it stays long enough so you can do the whole area where they are at enough times. I've had these a few times, no digging involved. (08/31/2009)
Thanks for the advice.
Hardiness Zone: 6a
Wendola from Michigan
A: Wedonla,
Mushrooms appear after periods (or growing seasons) that are wetter than usual. It's actually not a bad sign, as it means your soil is full of wonderful organic matter for them to extract nutrients from. Unfortunately, if you don't like how they look, or you're afraid of them being mistakenly eaten, you can rake them up, but there is very little you can do to stop them from growing. The part you see above ground (the mushroom) is only the fruiting or reproductive structure of the fungi, which helps the plant reproduce by releasing spores from the gills underneath its cap. The majority of the plant's growth is actually underground. To keep the mushrooms from reaching the age where they release their spores, you can either pick them or dig them out to minimize their spreading.
Ellen
About The Author: Ellen Brown is our Green Living and Gardening Expert. Click here to ask Ellen a question! Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services. Contact her on the web at http://www.sustainable-media.com
Mushrooms show that you have great soil. (06/06/2006)
By Kat
Seems in my research there is nothing you can do. Just pick them out each morning to prevent spreading and when the organic matter is gone they will go away. Looks like watering less may help as well. Good luck. (06/18/2006)
By Mike
