Mushrooms In Your Lawn

Mushrooms in your lawn Last Updated: 18/07/2023

Mushrooms and toadstools occur naturally and can appear on any area of a lawn under certain weather and ground conditions. They are a natural part of the environment and often indicate a healthy and fertile lawn and soil. Although they only live for a short period and are generally not problematic, toadstools can emerge in established turf due to specific soil environments. Common causes include the presence of organic debris beneath the lawn or the presence of dormant spores awaiting suitable conditions.

The type usually seen on lawns are harmless, however, humans or animals shouldn’t eat them as some are poisonous.

The fungi that produce toadstools can recycle dead plant material and will grow very fine threads called mycelium. Upon close inspection, you can sometimes see mycelium on the leaves of turf. It looks like cotton and disappear as it dries.

How to treat mushrooms and toadstools?

To reduce the chances of them appearing, lawns should be scarified regularly. Scarification removes thatch and debris underneath, which are the main causes of mushroom and toadstool growth. They should also be aerated to oxygenate the soil profile and drain water from the surface.

Toadstools can be removed by hand or by brushing them off. Alternatively, they can be cut with a lawn mower with a grass box attached to collect them in. Rotary mowers are usually better for this task.

If mushrooms appear in a circle or arc shape as in the picture below, this is indicative of Fairy Ring, a common turfgrass disease. Ask your local Lawn Master outlet for help with identification and how to manage.