Short answer
Pick them, bag them and throw them away, so kids and pets cannot eat any. They rarely hurt the grass: they are the fruit of a fungus that feeds on buried wood, old roots or dead grass in damp soil. Then water less often, rake up thick thatch and let in more sun. A cluster in one spot often sits over an old stump or dead roots you can dig out.
Safety first
Some lawn mushrooms are poisonous. Never eat one, wear gloves to pick them and keep kids and pets away. If a child swallows one, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away. If your pet eats one, call your vet.
How to get rid of mushrooms in the lawn
1Mushrooms pop up after rain
They are the fruit of a fungus that feeds on buried wood, old roots and dead grass. Most do not hurt the lawn, but some are poisonous.
Read all the steps
- Mushrooms pop up after rain. They are the fruit of a fungus that feeds on buried wood, old roots and dead grass. Most do not hurt the lawn, but some are poisonous.
- Pick them, bag them, toss them. Wear gloves, or pull them with a plastic bag over your hand. Throw the bag in the trash, so kids and pets cannot nibble them.
- Water less often. Mushrooms love wet, shady ground. Water only when the lawn needs it, early in the morning, and fix any spot that stays wet.
- Dig out buried wood. A cluster that keeps coming back often sits over an old stump, dead roots or scrap lumber. Dig it out if you can reach it.
- More sun, more air, less water. Trim low branches, rake up thick thatch and aerate packed soil. A few mushrooms may still pop up after heavy rain, and that is normal.
- Still not fixed? Call a landscaper Especially if: mushrooms or shelf fungus grow at the base of a tree or on its roots.
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Fairy rings
Mushrooms in a circle, or a ring of grass that grows faster than the rest, is a fairy ring. The fungus spreads outward from the center, sometimes for years, and it is hard to get rid of for good. Poke holes in the ring with a garden fork or aerate it, water it deeply and feed the lawn so the ring blends in. Fungicides rarely help.
What not to do
- Do not eat or taste any mushroom from the yard, even one that looks like the ones at the store.
- Do not mow over them when kids or pets are around. It scatters pieces they can pick up. Pick them first.
- Do not spray fungicide on the whole lawn. It does not reach the fungus deep in the soil.
- Do not dig into the roots of a living tree to chase the fungus.
When mushrooms mean trouble
Mushrooms or shelf fungus at the base of a tree, or along its roots, can mean the wood inside is rotting. The tree may look fine and still be weak. Have a tree pro look at it.
When to call a landscaper
- Mushrooms or shelf fungus grow at the base of a tree or on its roots.
- A spot stays wet for days, even without rain or watering.
- A fairy ring keeps spreading and leaves dead rings in the grass.
- The lawn has thick thatch or packed soil that needs aerating.
Frequently asked questions
Why are mushrooms growing in my lawn?
A fungus in the soil is feeding on buried wood, old roots or dead grass. Mushrooms are its fruit, and they pop up after rain or heavy watering, often in shade.
Are mushrooms in the lawn bad?
Usually not for the grass. They are a sign of soil rich in organic matter, and most disappear in a few days once it dries. The real risk is kids and pets eating them.
Are lawn mushrooms poisonous to dogs?
Some are, and they are hard to tell apart. Pick them before your dog finds them. If your dog eats one, call your vet or an animal poison control line right away.
Should I mow over mushrooms in my yard?
It is better to pick them first. Mowing breaks them into pieces that kids or pets can pick up, and it does not stop new ones from growing.
How do I get rid of mushrooms in my lawn permanently?
Often you cannot, because the fungus lives in the soil. Digging out buried wood, watering less, removing thatch and letting in more sun make them much less common.
Does fungicide kill mushrooms in the lawn?
Not well. The fungus lives deep in the soil, where sprays do not reach. Fixing drainage, shade and buried wood works better.