Mushrooms Sprouting On Lawn - Knowledgebase Question

Santa Cruz, CA
Avatar for phillips99
Question by phillips99
February 1, 2000
What can you recommend to get rid of mushrooms from my lawn. They come up when I water or when it rains.

I have pet rabbits who graze on the grass, so I am hoping for something that will not harm them.


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Answer from NGA
February 1, 2000
If the mushrooms are random, or scattered, rather than in a circle, they are probably growing because there's something underground that's decomposing. Usually an old tree stump, tree roots, or even leftover wood from construction are the causes for mushrooms growing on the soil surface. You can dig up the debris, or you can just rake up the mushrooms before they mature and release spores (that will produce more mushrooms).

Mushrooms can also be a result of poor nutrition and poor drainage in your lawn. Rake to remove the mushrooms, then put your lawn on a regular maintenance schedule. You may need to aerate the lawn to remove decomposing thatch and help with the compaction problem. Fertilize four times a year with a 3-1-2 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, applying one pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn per year. Be sure to water regularly so the lawn will grow thick enough to crowd out (or hide) the mushrooms.

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