Released June 25, 2009

LOGAN, Utah -- Fairy rings, mushrooms and toadstools are all just the fungal signs of a damp, cool spring.

“Mushrooms and toadstools are structures produced by various fungi for the purpose of spreading spores,” said Taun Beddes, Utah State University Extension horticulturist in Cache County. “Some are also quite tasty.”

The spores can be compared to very small plant seeds in that they have the potential to produce a new fungal organism in a different location, Beddes said. Many times, fungi living in the soil produce these during cool, wet weather, making it easier for spores to travel farther in the wind and rain and become established in a new location. If they show up in lawns and flower beds, the easiest thing to do is to put on gloves, remove them with a shovel and throw them away.

“Fungicides are often ineffective because the mushroom or toadstool is just a small portion of an organism living much deeper in the soil,” he said. “It is very difficult for fungicides to reach deeply enough to eliminate the fungi.”

Don’t be tempted to eat them, Beddes said, because it’s difficult to tell for sure which are tasty and which are toxic.

“Unless you have had specific training on identification from a trained expert and lots of practice, do not eat them,” Beddes said. “Over the years, many people have been harmed or killed because of mushroom misidentification. If a pet or child accidentally eats an unidentified mushroom, get them to the doctor or veterinarian. Take along a sample of the mushroom so you can get a positive identification and treatment if necessary.”

Beddes said another soil fungal problem that has been common this spring is a condition called fairy ring. Fairy rings are rings of fungi that produce visible toadstools in the lawn. Often, the grass dies in the middle portion of the ring because the fungus causes the soil to become temporarily compacted and prevents water from entering. In the outer portion of the ring, the grass turns darker green and grows at a faster rate than the rest of the lawn. Fairy rings will usually disappear after one to five years. Additionally, they can be temporarily masked by regular fertilization. Frequent aeration may also help eliminate them.

Soil fungi that produce mushrooms and toadstools feed on organic matter in the soil, Beddes said. This could include lawn thatch, roots from dead plants and trees, organic compost and even old construction waste. This is usually beneficial because the decomposed organic matter improves the soil. However, if toadstools or mushrooms are a continual problem, reduce their numbers by not over watering, ensuring that soil is well aerated, dethatching when absolutely necessary and removing old roots and construction waste. With warm, dry weather, toadstools and mushrooms often go away on their own.

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http://extension.usu.edu/htm/news/articleID=4934

Contact: Taun Beddes, 435-752-6263

Writer: Dennis Hinkamp, 435-797-1392