Posted on July 3rd, 2014
Many homeowners think that mushrooms are somehow dangerous to the landscape, but nothing could be further from the truth. Mushrooms are actually quite helpful to the soil. The only danger by having mushrooms in the lawn is if pets or small children actually eat them, since most mushroom species are poisonous. Mushrooms help nurture a healthy lawn and provide valuable nutrients to the soil.
Mushrooms benefit the lawn in many ways. First, they will decompose organic matter in the soil. This process releases nutrients into the soil to help your lawn grow better. Grass growing in areas once inhabited by mushrooms tends to be lush, green and thick. This is often due to the higher nitrogen content in the soil.
Mushrooms grow quickly and require sufficient water and humidity to complete development. This is why mushrooms pop up in a yard within a day or two of a good rain. Areas covered with newly laid sod or freshly sown grass seed often produce mushroom because of the frequent watering required to establish the turf. If the water runs out or the air is too dry, the mushrooms will abort. A cold shock also enhances fungal reproduction. A sudden cold front, in combination with rain and lingering humidity, is likely to trigger a flush of mushrooms to appear on a lawn.
