Lawn mushrooms 'will reappear' unless gardeners use common kitchen items - no chemicals

awns mushrooms 'will reappear' unless gardeners use common kitchen items - no chemicals (Image: Getty)

Lawn mushrooms are unsightly and often unknown to many gardeners but surprisingly harmless.

They are generally not poisonous to humans, though they are often not edible, making them a somewhat useless feature of an autumnal garden.

As for how to tackle them, Tim Marshall, Raby Castle’s head gardener, and Angela Slater, a gardening expert at Hayes Garden World, have offered an alternative to picking them.

Tim explained: "Mushrooms are the reproductive structures (fruit) of fungi. Fungi thrive in damp, carbon-rich soils containing organic matter which they can feed on and decompose."

He added that while mushrooms often get a bad rap, they're not a negative thing to have growing in your garden.

Mushrooms won't reappear if gardeners avoid picking them and use other methods (Image: Getty)

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"If they are identified as being edible, they are certainly very beneficial”, he said.

If the mushrooms are poisonous or suspected to be, and children and pets are nearby, removing the fruiting bodies is worth avoiding contact.

Tim advises that while removing the fungi's fruiting body can temporarily halt spore spread, it's not a permanent fix as "they will re-appear once damp conditions arise again”.

For those seeking swift action, gardening whizz Angela Slater from Hayes Garden World suggests forgoing harsh chemicals in favour of kinder alternatives.

A good starting point is to remove organic refuse, such as leaves and clippings, which are mushroom magnets.

Hand picking mushrooms without treating the grass afterwards is ineffective (Image: Getty)

Take a gardening spade and dig out the clusters of mushrooms before pouring a solution of washing-up liquid (two tablespoons dish soap to one gallon of water) into the hole and water over the surrounding area.

Turning to the kitchen cupboard, white vinegar can also tackle pesky toadstools, though Angela urged gardeners to mix it with equal parts water to avoid scorching the grass.

Pour the solution into a spray bottle, spritz generously over the troubled turf, and let it soak into the roots.

Not only does Angela champion immediate remedies, she also mentions a more gradual tactic: "A solution of two tablespoons of baking soda to two gallons of water raises the pH of the lawn and kills the mushrooms gradually”, she said.

In the long term, it can help to keep your lawn bone-dry, as these fungi flourish in moist settings.

Angela suggests aerating your lawn and incorporating horticultural sand if you're dealing with persistent drainage issues.

Taking time to treat soil, particularly raising nitrogen levels, will also help reduce mushroom growth.

This can be done using organic materials such as coffee grounds and legume shells. Grind the shells into a fine, sand-like consistency and scatter them over your lawn.

For optimal results, protecting the area from birds and pests is recommended after distributing the material.