How to kill mushrooms in mulch? You might be asking this question while seeing a troop of mushrooms invading your mulch.
Although there are various recommended methods to deal with mushrooms growing in mulch, not many work effectively. Raking or using fungicide is our best choice.
Follow us to find out more methods to kill mushrooms in mulch.
Why Do Mushrooms Grow In Mulch?
Mushrooms often show up after heavy rain. Most mushrooms tend to chill out until the condition is right, and by right, we mean a lot of moisture and decaying matter.
So, after rainstorms, the damp, moist ground is just what they need to grow. The conditions for mushrooms don’t stay ‘right’ very long, which is why you will encounter rapid growth of the mushroom.
Essentially, mulch contains an excess amount of organic material, making it a favorable environment for mushrooms to thrive.
How To Kill Mushrooms In Mulch?
Replace The Mulch
After all, mushroom-affected mulch will never stop growing fungi on it unless you shove the whole mulch bed away with your garden fork or spade.
Consequently, consider using another type of mulch that is less mushroom-friendly to kill mushrooms in mulch.
The only downside to this method is that it’s slightly pricey. Some people are not willing to spend a lot of money on such gardening tasks. Plus, you should only replace your mulch when you have a severe mushroom mulch problem.
Rake Your Mulch
Since mushrooms thrive in moist, damp areas, we recommend you rake the mulch lightly every 2-3 days to ensure the surface is dry. In the rainy season, the process requires daily repetition.
Raking does break not only the potential mushroom colonies but also spares more room for your plants to breathe. Taking the time to rake your mulch can pay off, helping to prevent mushrooms from popping up through your mulch.
Remove Mushrooms By Hand
If you’ve only spotted a few mushrooms in your garden mulch, try removing them manually. This method is effective as mushrooms can be easily pulled out by hand.
However, it is a different story when hundreds of them just lay around in your garden beds, which brings us to the following method – using fungicide.
Use Fungicide
A general-purpose fungicide will do an excellent job of removing mushrooms. Nonetheless, you should only use fungicide when you haven’t replaced your mulch for quite some time now, and it contains little to zero organic matter.
As mentioned, mulch can be pricey to replace, so you wouldn’t want to use fungicide on your newly placed mulch. Plus, as a fungicide is a chemical solution, it is not ideal for those who don’t want the toxic chemicals to damage their plants.
Remove The Dead Caps
Some mushrooms tend to break and fall apart; this is time to collect the dead mushroom caps and put them aside. While doing this, don’t forget to remove any matters that can form a breeding ground for new mushrooms.
Increase The Mulch’s pH
Even though this method is not as common as the others, increasing the mulch’s pH has proven effective in getting rid of fungi.
You’re going to augment the mulch’s alkaline content by adding solutions to your mulch. Yes, this is exactly like using a fungicide, but more naturally.
Such a natural mushroom killer might not eliminate mushrooms (if you have a severe fungal infection), but they will be sure to do the work without harming your plants.
Some gardeners prefer using fungicide as it is faster to spray the chemicals onto the lawn, but we suggest you try a natural fungicide.
The best way to do it is to mix one part of the chemical with four parts of water, then spray the mix where the mushrooms are located.
Call The Experts
Several landscaping services know how to get rid of mushrooms in mulch, and they can help you out with guaranteed results.
The experts can even spot potential problems your garden is likely to undergo in the future and suggest some preventive measures.
This is the best option for those new to gardening or simply just don’t have time to take care of their garden.
Mushrooms in mulch: How to get rid of them
How To Prevent Mushrooms From Growing In Mulch?
Use Less Mulch
Even though mulch is beneficial to your plant, it’s a false assumption that you need to use plenty of mulch in your garden. Doing so allows for more moisture to get trapped in certain areas, creating an environment conducive to mushroom growth.
At the same time, individual garden plants can’t grow with too much mulch around. They can end up being suffocated and not getting enough nutrients.
After you have replaced your fungi-affected mulch, try applying a thin layer of new mulch and see if mushrooms come back. This is a simple fix to prevent mushrooms from entering your garden.
Use Compost
Instead of using mulch, switch to compost. The material consists of already-decayed matter that limits the growth of mushrooms despite having other organic components and increasing the soil’s acidity.
Plus, compost tends to cover your mulch to stop it from breathing and getting moist. Mushrooms will have little to zero chance of growing in your garden if you make use of a compost pile.
Remember the dead caps and mushrooms we mentioned earlier, and this is when they come in handy. You can mix them with other materials to create organic compost.
Do keep in mind that it won’t bring the needed ‘aesthetic’ to your garden like mulch because mulch has a much more vibrant, colorful appearance, adding something to the overall scheme of your lawn.
Prune/Trim Trees And Shrubs
If your garden beds are placed under big trees, they may not be getting enough sunlight as the branches and shrubs are blocking the way. In this case, pruning and trimming should be carried out often to give your garden beds some relief.
Mushrooms can grow well in dark and shady spots, so take a bit of time to go through your trees and see if there’s anything in the way. Make sure to have enough open space to keep the sunlight reaching the ground.
What the sunlight does is keep your mulch dry to reduce moisture and kill any mushroom spores in the meantime. The result will pay off when you put out time and effort to handle these things.
Learn To Live With Them
Sometimes, these stubborn fungi just keep on coming back. After you have tried everything and nothing seems to work, it is best just to leave them. Of course, if there doesn’t appear to be any harmful fungi in the garden.
Some gardeners come up with a great idea about decoration by incorporating garden gnomes and other things to bring a theme to their gardens.
Note: If you spot any artillery fungus (those tiny, cup-shaped fungus with small, visible eggs inside), consider calling an expert.
Even though these types of fungi growing are not poisonous, it is hard to get rid of once they start growing on various surfaces.
Conclusion
By following the methods mentioned, you must know how to kill mushrooms in mulch by now. If you have any gardening questions, feel free to comment in the section down below.
Thank you for reading!
