If you’ve noticed mushrooms popping up throughout your lawn after a stretch of rain or humid weather, don’t panic! While they may seem concerning, mushrooms are actually a common and natural part of a healthy lawn ecosystem.
What Causes Mushrooms to Grow in Lawns?
Mushrooms are the visible fruiting bodies of fungi that live beneath the soil. Their job is to break down organic matter such as:
- Decaying tree roots
- Buried wood or old stumps
- Thatch
- Leaves and other plant material
When the soil is moist and temperatures are favorable, the underground fungus sends up mushrooms to release spores. That’s why they often seem to appear overnight after a good rain.
Why Are They Appearing Now?
Mushrooms are most common during periods of:
- Frequent rainfall
- High humidity
- Heavy morning dew
- Warm soil temperatures
- Irrigation that keeps the soil consistently moist
It’s completely normal to see mushrooms appear in late spring, summer, and early fall, especially after several days of wet weather.
what can you do about them?
While there’s no need to worry, there are a few things you can do if you’d rather not have mushrooms in your lawn:
- Pick or rake them up as they appear.
- Mow over small mushrooms to remove them.
- Water deeply but less frequently to allow the soil surface to dry between watering.
- Improve drainage in areas that stay wet.
- Core aerate compacted soils to improve airflow and water movement.
- Remove buried wood or old tree roots if mushrooms repeatedly appear in the same location.
Keep in mind that because the fungus lives underground, removing the mushrooms doesn’t eliminate the organism—it simply removes the visible portion.
will lawn treatments get rid of mushrooms?
No. Fertilizer and weed control applications do not cause mushrooms, nor are they designed to eliminate them.
Fungicides are generally not recommended for lawn mushrooms because they don’t solve the underlying cause and the mushrooms often return whenever environmental conditions are favorable.
are mushrooms bad for my lawn?
The good news is no—mushrooms do not damage your grass. In fact, they’re usually a sign that your soil contains plenty of organic matter and healthy microbial activity.
The mushrooms themselves are temporary and typically disappear once the weather becomes drier or they are mowed over.
the bottom line
Although mushrooms may be unsightly, they’re typically a temporary cosmetic issue—not a lawn health problem. They are simply nature’s recycling system at work, breaking down organic material beneath the surface.
If your grass is healthy and growing well, mushrooms are usually nothing more than a sign that your soil is biologically active.
Have questions about mushrooms or another issue in your lawn? Contact our team—we’re always happy to help identify what’s happening and recommend the best solution.