How to Naturally Get Rid of Mushrooms in Your Yard

How to Get Rid of Mushrooms

It's best to pluck and remove mushrooms before they can release their spores. This method will not solve the problem (because the mycelium, the underground network of fungus threads, will live on), but it will cut down on future mushroom reproduction.

1. Pull up the Mushrooms

   Pull or use a spade to dig as much of it from the ground as possible (do not just pluck off the mushroom head).
   

2. Wrap Them Up

   • Put the mushrooms immediately in a plastic bag so the movement doesn't disperse spores.
   • Tightly close the bag so that no spores can become airborne.
     

3. Use a Dish Detergent Solution

   Mix a few drops of dish detergent and water in a spray bottle and aim where you removed the mushroom; the dish soap acts as a mild fungicide.
   

   Tip

   For a natural alternative, use garden (horticulture) vinegar diluted with water in a spray bottle and spray the mushroom using precision. Leave the mushroom to die or dig, remove, and respray the spot where the mushroom came from for extra prevention. Wear protective gloves and clothing to protect your skin when using this vinegar.

How to Prevent Mushrooms From Growing

Thwart the growth of mushrooms by fixing your lawn's poor drainage, lack of nutrients, and shady spots. Remove any decaying organic matter left on the grass to hinder mushroom growth.

Create Good Drainage

The presence of mushrooms may mean the soil underneath your grass is not draining properly. Poor drainage leads to overly wet conditions, resulting in lawn diseases and mushroom growth. Besides mushrooms, look for small puddles of water and muddy patches to indicate drainage issues.

Drainage issues could result from a flat yard, impacted soil, clogged gutters, or sidewalks that block water drainage. Some solutions let you drain your soil and water better or allow you to corral and harvest excess water. Try the following:

• Reroute or extend a downspout.
• Clean gutters causing the flooding.
• Harvest rain to reduce poor water drainage by creating a rain garden, rain pond, or rain barrels.
• For severe cases of flooding, professionally install a French drain, or create a swale or dry creek bed.

Aerate Your Lawn to Improve Soil Drainage

Aerating your lawn may work in less severe cases. Aeration lets water and nutrients penetrate your soil rather than sitting on the grass. Manual spike or core aerators are good for small lawns. For large lawns, rent gas-powered aeration equipment from a home improvement center for convenience.

Encourage Sunlight

Mushrooms love dark, damp patches of grass, so too much shade encourages growth. Prune trees and bushes to let more sunlight into your lawn area.

Maintain Your Lawn

Cleaning up decaying organic matter can make a difference when preventing mushroom growth. Consider these steps:

• Make spring cleaning in the yard an annual priority.
• Bag or rake the bulk of grass clippings after mowing. (A small amount of finely shredded grass clippings on the lawn after mowing is generally a healthy practice for your lawn.)
• Rake fallen leaves off the lawn or remove them with a leaf blower in the fall.
• Keep your lawn de-thatched.
• Remove old tree stumps so they do not encourage mushroom growth.