No, you haven't transported into your favorite childhood video game. These mushrooms are real, and EVERYWHERE right now! In today's blog, we'll take a look at what these mushrooms are, why you have them, and the steps you can take to get rid of them.

The Agrocybe Mushroom (Say that 3 Times Fast)

Mushrooms in your lawn are a problem during these wet, humid, cloudy days right now in Cleveland and Columbus. While they may look different, the mushrooms growing in your lawn all (pretty much) belong to the same family. These mushrooms grow in clusters around your lawn, and often have flat or even concave tops. The underside of the tops of these mushrooms show "gill-like" features, leading to a thin shaft. Typically these mushrooms appear tan, or brown, with a distinct "ring" around the top.  

Can I Touch... or Even Eat Them?

While these mushrooms are not dangerous to the touch, they can be poisonous if consumed. They are perfectly fine to pick or pull, but please don't lick your fingers after doing so. Wash your hands thoroughly after you're done, and all will be fine! As a word of warning, educate your kids that while safe to touch, do not eat them, and to be safe, keep your pets from consuming them.

Why Your Lawn Has Them... Now

With all this wacky weather we've been having lately, it's not hard to explain why your lawn is getting them. The fact is that mushrooms are a reproductive part of the mycelium (fungi) that naturally exists in ALL SOIL! The mushrooms you see are the mycelium's way of reproducing by spreading it's spores. All soil has this mycelium naturally, and mushrooms are a part of it's natural process. 

Getting Rid of Mushrooms in Your Lawn

As we discussed above, mushrooms are a natural reproductive process of the fungi living in your soil. However, like some lawn diseases, they are encouraged by excess moisture and damp conditions. While there is no way they can be stopped with a curative method, and most will disappear shortly, there are a few ways you can prevent them in the future. Here are some tips to help prevent them:

• Aerate Your Lawn - Mushrooms form when conditions are really wet, causing the natural fungi in your lawn to go into hyper-activity. Having compacted soil will only increase areas of standing water, causing mushrooms to appear. Keeping your lawn aerated will help with draining by opening thousands of tiny pockets, relieving compacted soil.
  
  
• Proper Drainage - Installing drain tile in low-lying areas is another good way to prevent mushrooms. If you have an area where mushrooms appear every season, drainage is the likely culprit. Install some drain tile to help divert some of the excess moisture away from the area. As stated above, a lawn aeration will also help. 

Learn About Other Lawn Diseases and Problems with Our FREE Guide!

Mushrooms are just one of the issues you may face this summer from wet, humid like conditions. Get the scoop on other lawn diseases and issues that you may encounter with our FREE Lawn Disease guide. This free guide will teach you everything you need to know about common Ohio lawn diseases, and how to get rid of them. To get your free copy, just click on the link below. 

  Shaun Kanary has been a part of the Green Industry for the past 15 years. As the Director of Marketing for Weed Pro Lawn Care, a Cleveland and Columbus Lawn Care Service Provider, Shaun is a regular contributor to the Weed Pro Blog, and other industry magazine and blogs. 

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