Mushrooms – Are they good or bad?

It is not uncommon for mushrooms to grow in and around gardens, be it on the grass or in the soil. At first the appearance of mushrooms may be alarming – let’s face it, they are not very attractive and they are generally not wanted or expected visitors. Aesthetics aside, the appearance of mushrooms in your garden is a positive sign as they indicate a healthy environment with a good balance of nutrients.

The appearance of mushrooms is mostly due to the weather and the time of year. The mushroom toadstools we see are the reproductive features (fruit) of the fungi that thrives in warm and moist conditions. As mushrooms spread their microscopic spores through the soil and air, the main part of the fungi is generally always present in most soils while generally being undetectable to the naked eye. If you have ever looked closely at grass you can sometimes see wispy fine threads on the end of grass blades – this is the fungi. These threads are called mycelium and look a bit like cotton, and they tend to disappear as the sun dries them out.

Fungi are the main macro ingredient in turf and are essential for healthy lawn establishment. The main role of fungi is to break down thatch and other debris, while also supplying the grass with valuable nutrients. When turf is harvested there is a quantity of dead materials in the grass and the role of the fungi is to break this down. Once all of the dead matter has been used up by the fungus it dies naturally too. There is no need to apply any chemicals – infact, doing so may be detrimental to your lawn.

As well as in grass, fungi and bacteria play an integral role in the life cycle of soil. They break down complex organic compounds of proteins, carbohydrates and fats into their most basic elements. Once broken down, these nutrients can be used by other generations of organisms, as they are easier to absorb. Underground, below the mushrooms, there are thread-like networks of fungi that attach themselves to plant roots. They create filaments that reach far into the soil. This can increase the surface area of plant roots substantially

While mushrooms are a sign of a healthy environment they are not the most attractive feature. You can mow the lawn as normal to cut the head off the toadstool or rake the toadstools off the soil. Within a matter of weeks they should be gone completely.