A caution has been issued to individuals who come across mushrooms sprouting in their garden this October. Due to heavy rainfall and decreasing temperatures creating damp conditions in grassy areas, gardeners have observed the emergence of mushrooms as a prevalent issue this month.
Fungi thrive in wet environments, and as autumn progresses, mushrooms start appearing in grassy sections, flower borders, and plant containers. While some mushrooms contribute positively to a garden’s natural diversity, others can be harmful to animals or detrimental to other plants in the outdoor space, as warned by BBC Gardeners World. These problematic mushrooms require immediate attention.
BBC Gardeners World advises being cautious, stating that assuming mushrooms are poisonous unless identified otherwise is the safest approach. They highlight the importance of contacting a vet immediately if there is suspicion of a pet consuming toxic mushrooms, as symptoms may include excessive salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of balance, and seizures.
Although mushrooms signify garden biodiversity, it is crucial to ensure they are not of the harmful variety and act promptly if they are. Eliminating mushrooms from the lawn is a simple process that does not require expensive chemicals or fungicides. The initial step involves manually removing any mushrooms and using a basic garden tool, such as a broom, to dislodge clusters of smaller mushrooms, according to the Express.
To prevent the recurrence of mushrooms, it is essential to keep the lawn clean, dry, and well-aerated by removing thatch and debris and cutting the grass shorter. Gardeners World recommends discouraging future mushroom growth by maintaining a cleaner, drier, and more aerated lawn environment, which is less conducive to fungi. They suggest raking up fallen twigs and leaves in the autumn, regularly mowing the lawn short for faster drying, and scarifying to eliminate dead grass and moss buildup on the lawn’s surface.