Slime molds are fast-growing, primitive fungi suddenly appearing as "foamy" patches on lawns or mulched areas. They usually appear after rainy periods or following the application of freshly-ground wood mulch. The patches can be white, gray, yellow, purple, orange or brown and they often have the appearance of animal vomit, which makes them more unsightly than harmful. The good news is that slime molds don't cause any plant diseases and control is generally unnecessary. They use plants, wood mulch and other organic materials to support their spore-producing reproductive structures. Slime molds that grow on plants may decrease the amount of sunlight that reaches the leaves. If management is required for cosmetic reasons, the best solution is a decrease in irrigation. Then when the lawn or wood mulch is dry, the affected area can be mowed or raked to remove the slime-mold spots. To remove it from plants, simply wash or prune the leaves. For more information, see PlantTalk script Slime Mold.

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