Removing mushrooms from the lawn: How to get rid of them

You probably dream of a lush green lawn without moss and weeds. If you invest a lot of time in lawn care, you can come a long way towards this goal. But many hobby gardeners keep reporting a problem: fungi in the lawn. They suddenly sprout on the well-kept lawn and are difficult to get rid of.

In this article you will find all the information you need on this topic. You will learn which fungi grow in the lawn and which fungi and lawn diseases could spread in your garden. Of course, we will also show you how to get rid of annoying fungi and prevent them in the future.

Mushrooms in the lawn: What's that all about?

When you think of mushrooms, you probably think of delicious mushroom dishes. You can use them extensively in the kitchen and create the most delicious dishes with them. But it's a different story when mushrooms grow in your garden. They are probably not delicious edible mushrooms, but a disease.

Mushrooms in the garden appear especially in spring and autumn: at these times of the year the weather is often warm and humid. This combination offers the best conditions for the growth of mushrooms in the lawn.

A distinction must be made between different terms. You can find mushrooms with a real fruiting body in the grass. But mushrooms in the lawn can also be fungal diseases in which a fungal network spreads across your lawn.

In both cases, you should take care of the infestation quickly. Identify the disease and find out how to combat it most easily. The smaller the area of ​​the lawn that is affected, the easier it will be to get rid of the fungus or fungal disease.

Mushrooms, fairy rings & more: Which mushrooms grow in the lawn?

Have you discovered fungi in your lawn? First, you should find out what kind of fungus or disease it is so that you can fix the cause. Fungal infestations are often caused by a lack of nutrients or certain soil conditions. You can only fix these if you know about the problem.

If you see mushrooms with a fruiting body growing in your garden, it could be the common parasol mushroom or the clove fungus. Both species are gilled mushrooms that can be seen under the umbrella. The problem with these mushrooms is that they often come with fairy rings. As soon as you discover them, you should remove them.

The common parasol mushroom and the chanterelle mushroom pose another danger: although they are non-poisonous, they have poisonous counterparts. For this very reason, it is advisable to dispose of wild mushrooms and not eat them.

If fungi grow in your lawn, they can lead to other diseases and fungal growths (mycelium). These include the fairy rings mentioned above. The fungi grow in the shape of a circle that continues to spread. The grass within the rings turns brown and dies. This is what makes fungi in the lawn so dangerous: They can damage your lawn so badly that it can no longer be saved and has to be replanted.

This also applies to many other fungal diseases. Snow mold is also caused by fungi: you can recognize it by spots in the lawn that are yellow to brown in color. Other aggressive lawn diseases are dollar spot and red thread.

You now know that fungi can be a major threat to your lawn. But other lawn diseases can also cause major damage to your garden. On our blog you will find some helpful articles about lawn diseases and lawn damage.

How do fungi and fungal diseases arise in lawns?

Fungi usually develop when the right conditions for grass growth are not present. There are various conditions or deficiencies that can weaken your lawn and encourage the growth of fungi.

This includes, for example, waterlogging. If the soil in your garden is very compacted, the water cannot drain away and collects on the lawn. This means that it stays moist for a particularly long time and provides a good breeding ground for fungi. This is why incorrect watering can also encourage fungal growth. In our knowledge library we have summarized important tips for watering your lawn correctly .

Potassium deficiency and an inadequate supply of other nutrients also weaken your lawn. You should therefore pay close attention to the topic of lawn fertilization. Your lawn needs fertilizer several times a year so that it can draw sufficient nutrients from the soil. This strengthens its growth and also its resistance to fungi.

An incorrect pH value may also be the cause of the fungal growth. In order for your lawn to grow as well as possible, the pH value should be between 5.5 and 6.5. If it is too high or too low, your lawn will be weakened and particularly susceptible to fungi. With a pH soil test, you can easily determine the pH value and then take measures such as fertilizing or liming to improve the soil quality.

Removing fungi in the short term is easy - but it requires the right lawn care to prevent a re-infestation. Fertilizing and proper watering are particularly important to strengthen your lawn and give fungi no chance.

Our conclusion: Fight and prevent fungi in the lawn with the right lawn care

Fungi settle in many gardens: with the right lawn care, you can not only remove them, but also prevent them. Provide your lawn with enough nutrients and ensure it is well watered. Occasional scarification rounds off your care and can eliminate fungal infestation.