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In Gardening

Are Mushrooms a Sign of a Healthy Lawn or Possibly Dangerous

9 Mins Read

I have noticed people have a mixed reaction to the emergence of mushrooms on their garden lawn.

There are those whose first reaction is that of elation. Some people just love mushrooms in whatever form.

Then there are those that immediately start to worry.

Will mushrooms ruin the overall health of the garden? Why did they appear in the first place? What does it all mean?

So today, let me try to answer the age-old question – are mushrooms a sign of a healthy lawn or something potentially dangerous?

Are Mushrooms a Sign of a Healthy Lawn

To be honest, there is no simple answer to this question.

Sorry to be boring but I need to repeat what you will read at most places.

Mushroom growth in your garden lawn can be both good news or in some rare cases, possibly risky.

To fully comprehend what presence of mushrooms could mean for your garden, you need to learn the following:

1) Why do mushrooms appear in your garden in the first place?

2) Why mushrooms can indeed be a sign of a healthy lawn?

3) Why mushrooms in some cases can pose a risk to the health of your garden and family members?

Once you understand the above, you will be able to conclude yourself whether the mushrooms growing on your lawn are good or bad.

Why do mushrooms appear on your garden lawn in the first place?

Are mushrooms a sign of a healthy lawn and why do they appear?

Mushrooms are part of the fruiting bodies of fungi.

While I am not going to get into detail on fungal structures for now, presence of fungi in the soil particles in your garden is the main reason for appearance of mushrooms on your lawn.

So what causes fungi to grow in your garden lawn?

Your garden soil will have fungi as a result of any organic material that has been there for a while and has the right conditions to grow quickly.

Organic material can be anything from decomposing twigs, old grass clippings, dead tree roots to animal waste, compost, organic debris, food waste etc.

Fungi thrive in damp conditions. They don’t just grow on the soil surface, they can grow on tree stumps, dead trees or any woody material.

Dampness in garden soil can be due to various reasons. This includes humid weather, excess moisture due to poor drainage or shady conditions, heavy rain, overwatering, excess thatch etc.

Heavy rain can also result in excessive dampness and moisture build-up.

Therefore, organic waste plus damp and humid conditions results in the growth of fungi, which in turn end up causing mushrooms to appear on your garden lawn.

What are fairy rings in lawns and why do they appear?

What are fairy rings and why do they appear in your garden lawn?

You may have noticed that sometimes, mushrooms grow in your garden lawn in a circle.

These circles or arcs of mushrooms on the lawn grass are known as fairy rings.

Fairy rings are a part of several myths, legends and fantasy stories.

This is mainly due to the beauty of these rings and their mystical appearance.

We know mushrooms grow due to the presence of fungi.

Fungi reproduce through microscopic spores. Sometimes, a fungus ends up sprouting multiple threads known as fungal mycelia.

The mycelia, grows under the surface of the soil in a round, circular pattern. In time, they start to reproduce.

Since, mushrooms are a reproductive part of fungi, they start to sprout at regular intervals in a circle forming a fairy ring.

Whether these mushroom fairy rings are healthy for your lawn or not, you cannot argue against the beauty of their sight which is absolutely full of wonder.

Why mushrooms can indeed be a sign of a healthy lawn?

The overall consensus amongst lawn care experts is that appearance of mushrooms can indeed be a good sign.

It indicates a healthy ecosystem in your lawn. Fungi and mushrooms help break organic matter and create healthy soil.

They help release nutrients from organic debris which spreads within the soil leading to thicker and greener grass.

Your garden relies on microbial activity for healthy plant growth. The presence of fungi leading to the growth of mushrooms aids in nourishing microbial activity and is overall a good thing for the wellbeing of the garden.

Think about this. Mushrooms naturally grow in forests. What we see as wild mushrooms are in fact a crucial element in the natural ecosystem that helps forests rejuvenate and recycle on their own without any intervention from human beings.

It is the mushrooms and fungi activity that converts all dead wood, plant and animal waste into nutrients for the regrowth of trees and other forest elements.

They replenish the soil with nourishing nutrients, giving it the boost it needs to continue manage the entire ecosystem of the forest.

These mushrooms appear and even disappear on their own after the job is done.

This is a natural process. It has been developed by nature itself.

Therefore, emergence of mushrooms in your lawn is mainly a sign of nature doing its job.

Why mushrooms in some cases can pose a risk to the health of your garden?

As established already, you do not have to worry about mushrooms growing on your garden lawn.

Typically, new mushrooms appear and fade away on their own. The fungi going through its reproduction process will only enrich your soil and strengthen grass roots.

Their help with decomposing organic matter results in providing an essential food source to plants, necessary for their growth.

However, there are two instances when fungus growth and appearance of mushrooms can pose a risk to the health of your garden or your family members.

Poisonous Mushrooms

In most cases, backyard mushrooms are non-poisonous.

You will usually see varieties such as white mushrooms or shaggy ink cap mushrooms growing on your lawn.

However, in very rare circumstances, given the right conditions and several other factors, you could get toadstools or poisonous mushrooms growing in your garden.

There are no scientific ways to distinguish between a poisonous and non-poisonous mushroom. A simple homeowner or gardener will definitely not be able to tell the difference.

Now, even if the mushroom in your garden was poisonous, it will not pose a risk till you actually try to cook and eat it.

On the other hand, if you have pets who you think might nibble at the mushrooms, that could in fact, be dangerous.

Little children can also get curious and touch these mushrooms. It may become a risk if they in turn put their hands inside their mouth without thoroughly washing them.

Hence, if you are worried about what your pets or little children may end up doing with the garden mushrooms, it may be a good idea to get rid of them.

Another thing to remember, even if the garden mushrooms are not poisonous, they are not edible so please do not try to cook with them.

Lawn Diseases

Mushrooms can actually make your grass healthier, greener and stimulate plant growth.

However, do keep a look out if the opposite is visible.

If you feel that the leaves of your plants have developed yellow spots, they have started to droop, there are signs of pale yellowish green grass or there are other plant health issues, you may be dealing with some type of lawn disease.

There are different species of fungi and they do not always act in a similar manner.

It is possible that the fungi in your garden is causing root rot and other issues.

While this is rare, it does happen from time to time.

If you are indeed dealing with species of fungi that are creating lawn diseases, you need to treat your soil to completely get rid of them. Just removing the mushrooms will not help in this case.

How to get rid of mushrooms and fungi from your garden lawn

How to get rid of mushrooms growing on your garden lawn?

Getting rid of the mushrooms that appear on your lawn is actually quite simple.

1) Wear gloves and simply remove the mushrooms by hand. Pull them from the stalk or cut them with a knife and carefully dispose in a trash bag.

Remember, mushrooms cannot be put in the compost pile. They will only end up feeding on organic matter, release spores and spread further.

2) Use your lawnmower to quickly cut your grass and remove mushrooms all at once.

3) Use nitrogen fertilizer on any decaying organic matter to quicken the process and cut off the food source for fungi or mushrooms.

4) Use homemade organic mushroom removers such as vinegar solution, soap water mixture or other liquids to spray over mushroom affected areas.

Do take care that you spray only on the mushrooms and bit of the surrounding areas as otherwise your healthy grass or plants could die as well.

5) If your lawn has been infected by a disease and you need to get rid of the fungi itself, then it is slightly trickier.

The best way to achieve this is to use fungicide chemicals that are safe for garden use.

First, carefully remove all the mushrooms. Then spray the fungicide all over your plants and grass.

As far as possible, use natural fungicides as I am not convinced if the chemicals used are 100% safe for gardening.

Do keep in mind that fungi will be back if they find ideal growing conditions such as high moisture, humidity, dampness, excess lawn thatch, decaying organic matter etc.

So you need to ensure that you minimize these conditions as much as possible for fungi and mushrooms not to return.

Final summary on mushrooms in your garden

Mushrooms appearing on your garden lawn is quite normal and a natural process.

Even with a new lawn and fresh soil, fungi slowly reproduce and spread resulting in mushrooms.

You will mostly see them grow in shady areas with poor drainage. They can grow on woody material or on your lawn grass.

Mushrooms are a sign of a healthy lawn ecosystem and nothing to be worried about.

The only two instances when they pose a risk is if in very rare conditions, you have poisonous mushrooms or fungi causing lawn diseases.

To get rid of mushrooms completely, you have to not just remove them and the fungi, but also ensure they do not have the right conditions needed to regrow in your garden.

In Gardening

How to Use Reusable Garden Patio Paving Molds

4 Mins Read

When we wrote about cheap patio paving ideas last month, a lot of you were interested in knowing more about how to use reusable patio paving molds as that was the best option for DIY garden pathways and patio designs.

Hence today, I thought of talking more about these wonderful plastic molds that can be used in a variety of ways in your garden.

What are Reusable Garden Patio Paving Molds?

As the name suggests, these are reusable molds mainly made of Polypropylene Plastic (PP) Resin that can be used to create beautiful garden pathways, patios and designer walkways around your house.

They are extremely easy to use and currently provides the simplest and cheapest DIY option for your garden.

Typically, reusable patio paving molds have a 2 inch depth and come in various patterns.

How to Use Reusable Patio Paving Molds for Garden Pathways

Using reusable patio paving molds in your garden is as easy as it can get.

You will need:

Your garden patio mold (obviously)
Store bought concrete mix or pre-mixed concrete
Water
Flat Trowel
Bucket or wheel barrow or anything else where you can mix the concrete with water and carry easily around your garden.

Steps to Use:

1) First mark the area where you want to create your pathway or base of your patio.

Prepare this area by removing any lose stones or anything else that may come in the way.

2) Mix the concrete with water and get it ready for use.

3) Place the mold where you want to start and carefully start pouring the concrete mix in the gaps ensuring the patterns of the mold get filled properly.

4) Use a trowel to flatten the concrete to your liking.

5) Once the concrete is semi-dry, remove the mold and place it wherever you want to continue next.

Note: Do not wait for the concrete to dry to remove the mold. If you do, you may not be able to remove the mold later on.

6) Keep reusing till your pathway or patio base is complete.

7) Once your pathway or patio design is done and the concrete has dried out, you will notice gaps between the shapes where the mold was placed. You can either fill these gaps with stones, plant grass, add soil or just fill up the gaps with concrete once again if you wish.

For pathways, you may not want to fill the gaps at all as this gives the stepping stones effect.

You get reusable garden molds in the market in a variety of shapes. From abstract patterns to circular, rectangles etc.

Depending upon your usage, you can buy the shape that best suits your needs or even buy multiple molds to create unique patterns.

Where to Buy?

Reusable patio paving molds for your garden, concrete mix and trowel can be bought at any home improvement store.

You can even buy these on Amazon and other online retailers.

Other Uses

Most individuals use reusable plastic garden molds for building patio designs and beautiful pathways.

However, these molds are quite versatile and can be used in other creative ways.

For example, you could use the molds to plant seeds of specific flowers of different colors. With this, you will have flowers blooming in various patterns in your garden.

You could plant may be red flowers on one shape and yellow flowers in the other.

You could also add soil and plant grass in various shapes.

Depending upon the pattern of your mold, you can use them in your garden in a way that gives it a unique aesthetic appeal.

Final thoughts

I just love my reusable garden patio paving mold. It has helped me create a garden the way I wanted it to be without the huge expenses and heavy labor involved.

If you enjoy spending time in your garden, maintaining it yourself, you will enjoy working with these reusable molds for sure.

In Home and DIY Projects

3 Types of Smart Gadgets for Easy Garden Maintenance

5 Mins Read

I think we can all agree that creating a garden is the easy part. Maintaining the garden is the real challenge.

I know so many people who start out enthusiastically and then their initial euphoria starts to fade out with each passing day. Managing plants and everything else that come with a garden is not a simple task.

There is so much more to maintaining a garden effectively than just designing a garden and placing plants and accessories in your backyard.

So for those of you who feel they are falling behind and also for the ones who want to embrace technology when it comes to effective garden management, here are three types of smart gadgets that I recommend.

Note that these are types of gadgets. Meaning they are a category on their own. You can find several different sub-gadgets in each of these categories specializing in specific tasks. However, even the basic gadgets will be a great starting point in growing a beautiful and healthy garden at your home.

1) Smart WiFi Sprinkler Controller Systems

Lets face it, watering the plants regularly is pretty much the number one reason why backyard gardens fail. Most of us just do not have the time to water out plants daily.

A lot of us do not even know how much to water or how to water. How much is enough or too little for our gardens.

For this, I strongly suggest to install a good WiFi sprinkler controller system in your garden.

Essentially, what a WiFi sprinkler control will do is automate your sprinkler operations. However, there are gadgets that take the sprinkler watering task to a whole new level.

You can have the system connected to your home WiFi and Voice Assistant Systems like Alexa. After that, you can choose specific times for watering. You can choose the amount of water to be used as per time, temperature or even the season.

Smart sprinkler systems can even adjust watering based on soil conditions.

Having your watering system automated and regulated exactly as per the needs of your garden is definitely a must have for any modern gardener.

2) Smart Plant Sensors

There are a variety of plant sensors available that are meant for indoors as well as outdoor gardening use. The outdoor ones are waterproof and rainproof for better durability.

One of the biggest headaches for gardeners is plant and soil nutrition. Sometimes, even when we water the plants regularly and do everything right, they still seem to wither away quite quickly.

This is because a good healthy garden needs a lot more than just water or sunlight.

This is where plant sensors come in. Smart plant sensors can have specific tasks like checking for soil nutrition, moisture levels, humidity etc. The more expensive sensors can do it all.

Smart sensors can also connect to your WiFi and automate the reporting and analysis process. You can receive simple reports on the condition of your plants as well as overall garden and what you need to do to improve its health.

You will know exactly when to add boosters or add nutrition to the soil. You will know if your plant is getting sunlight or too much of it. There are a whole plethora of reports you can access to improve the health of your garden. Of course, you can always keep it simple and just get informed of specific issues like nutrition and moisture levels.

Smart plant sensors are a huge category. So it will be good to do some homework before purchasing one. You should know what data you absolutely must know and what is a bonus for you when purchasing a plant sensor.

3) Garden Robots

When I talk about garden robots, know I am not talking about robots that you see on television, movies or video games.

Garden robots can look like small vacuum cleaners or can be circular in shape. They do few odd jobs that are needed to maintain a healthy garden.

For instance, you can purchase a weed eating robot. This tiny robot simply moves around your garden and cuts off weeds that can take over and create a nuisance.

There are small robots for sensor based jobs as well. Some can keep track of critters and simply act as a scarecrow to keep unwanted guests away.

These robots are a fun and useful addition to your garden and most of them can connect to your WiFi system and can be controlled remotely.

Final thoughts

If you are a serious gardener, then it is about time you look into these smart gadgets for garden maintenance. Even for those lazy or always out of time gardeners, smart gadgets can be a real life saver.

We have already embraced technology in most aspects of our lives. It is time to embrace it for garden management tasks as well.