How to Naturally Get Rid of Mushrooms in Your Yard

How to Get Rid of Existing Mushrooms

The job of a mushroom is to release its spores, so it's best to pluck and remove them before they can release their spores. This method will not solve the problem (because the underground fungus will live on), but it will cut down on mushroom reproduction in the future, at least.

1. Pull up the Mushrooms

   Pull or 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 any spores.
   • Tightly close the bag so that no spores can become airborne.
     

3. Use a Dish Detergent Solution

   Spray a few drops of dish detergent mixed with water where you removed the mushroom; the dish soap acts as a mild fungicide.
   

   Tip

   It's possible to use vinegar as another natural way to remove mushrooms, too. Use garden (horticulture) vinegar diluted with water in a spray bottle and spray the mushroom with precision. Leave the mushroom to die or you can 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

If you want to thwart the growth of mushrooms, you can take matters into your own hands. The overall reasons for lawn mushrooms include poor drainage, lack of nutrients, too many shady spots, and too much decaying organic matter left on the lawn.

1. Create Good Drainage

   The presence of mushrooms may mean that the soil underneath your grass is not draining properly. Poor drainage leads to overly wet conditions, which, in turn, can lead to lawn diseases and mushroom growth. Besides the mushrooms, you will know you have drainage issues when you see small puddles of water and muddy patches around your lawn.

   Drainage issues could be the result of many problems, from having a flat yard, impacted soil, clogged gutters, or sidewalks that are blocking water drainage, for example. Some solutions let you drain your soil and water better or allow you to corral and harvest excess water.

   To alleviate problematic waterlogging in your yard, try the following:

   • Reroute or extend a downspout.
   • Clean gutters causing flooding to help water evenly distribute itself throughout the yard.
   • Harvest rain to reduce the poor distribution of water 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.
     

2. Aerate Your Lawn

   Aerating your lawn may work in less severe cases. Aeration lets water and nutrients penetrate your soil rather than sitting on top of the grass. You can rent the equipment from a rental center since you won't need to aerate enough throughout the year to actually own the equipment.
   

3. Encourage Sunlight

   Mushrooms love dark, damp patches of grass, so having too much shade encourages their growth. To alleviate this problem, prune larger trees and bushes to let more sunlight into your lawn area. You can prune small trees just enough to make a difference, and for larger trees, hire professionals.
   

4. Maintain Your Lawn

   Dealing with the presence of decaying organic matter is largely a matter of cleanliness. If you consider yourself a "neat freak," then this step is right up your alley. You will never be able to remove all of the decaying organic matter in your lawn's soil (nor would you want to), but a concerted effort to keep the lawn clean can make a difference in the long run. Consider these steps:

   • To prevent mushrooms, make spring cleaning in the yard an annual priority.
   • While leaving a small amount of finely shredded grass clippings on the lawn after mowing is generally a healthy practice for your lawn, consider bagging or raking them up if you are intent on keeping mushrooms from sprouting up.
   • Rake fallen leaves off the lawn in the fall (or remove them with a leaf blower).
   • Keep your lawn de-thatched.
   • Remove old tree stumps completely, as they are a clear invitation for mushrooms of all kinds.