Gardeners warned to look out for mushrooms in lawns - how to get rid of them
As heavy rain and colder temperatures bring moisture to lawns, one thing gardeners have noticed beginning to affect their lawns this October are mushrooms and this is what you need to do
A warning has been issued to anyone discovering mushrooms sprouting in their garden this October.
With heavy downpours and dropping temperatures bringing dampness to grass areas, gardeners have spotted one particular issue beginning to impact their lawns this October - mushrooms.
Fungi flourish in soggy conditions and as autumn sets in, mushrooms begin appearing across grass areas, alongside flower borders and within plant containers.
Whilst certain mushrooms are benign contributors to a garden's natural diversity, others can prove toxic to animals or damaging to other plants flourishing in your outdoor area, BBC Gardeners World has cautioned, and require immediate attention.
BBC Gardeners World warns: "While many mushrooms are harmless, some are toxic and so the safest approach is the precautionary one - assume that mushrooms are poisonous unless identified otherwise.
"If you suspect your dog has eaten something poisonous, contact a vet immediately. Symptoms of poisoning include excessive salivation, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of balance, and seizures."
The horticultural publication does emphasise that mushrooms indicate garden biodiversity, so "overall fungi in lawns is a good thing," but you must ensure they aren't the hazardous variety and act swiftly if they are.
Thankfully, if you wish to eliminate mushrooms from your grass, it's remarkably straightforward using one garden essential and doesn't demand costly chemicals or fungicides. The first step is to manually pick out any mushrooms, and then use a single garden tool - a broom - to dislodge clusters of smaller mushrooms, reports the Express.
To stop them from returning, it's crucial to maintain your lawn clean, dry and 'airier', by eliminating thatch and dead matter and trimming the grass shorter.
Gardeners World advises: "Discourage mushrooms from developing in future by making the lawn environment cleaner, drier, and airier, all of which are less welcoming to fungi.
"Rake up fallen twigs and leaves in autumn and cut the lawn regularly as short grass dries much faster than if left long. Scarify (rake) to remove the layer of dead grass and moss that builds up on the surface of a lawn."
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