Fungi and the garden

Fungi and the garden

Adding to all the wet weather woes this summer is the presence of fungi, which can take several forms.

One is mushrooms or toadstools, the reproductive part of fungi, which we’ve seen exploding like never before, mainly on shards of rotted wood. But they also pop up on lawns, sometimes in what are called “fairy rings.” These are generally not dangerous, but since there are more than 400 species of toadstools, you’ll want to keep them away from pets and young children by plucking them or mowing them down.

Also, since the spores may have escaped on the wind by the time you get to this, they may reappear at some point. Not to worry. Keeping the garden healthy – the lawn aerated and nourished; the trees, shrubs and hedges trimmed – will discourage the kind of poorly ventilated conditions in which toadstools thrive. Remember, however, that we began by saying that weather is a factor and there is little you can do about the truly tropical conditions we have seen this summer, with rain and heat virtually every day. August’s start appears to be drier and a bit cooler.

Dollar Spot Symptoms - Photo by Glenobear

All this moisture can also leave your lawn with powdery black, gray, rust or white patches. Fungi, with names like “red thread” and “dollar spot,”  can also result from improper watering or overwatering. But drought can also be a culprit – although not in the Northeast this summer – along with too much fertilizer, compact soil and incorrect mowing, writes TV home expert Bob Vila (“This Old House”).  

Complicating the issue, he writes:  The damage to your lawn may actually be from grubs – beetle larvae that can remain in that stage, feeding on lawn roots, for up to three years. Look for   brown spots in sunny areas of the lawn, grass that is easy to lift up – since grubs, unlike fungi, attack the root system; grub-feasting visitors like birds and raccoons; and a spongy feel (unlike the slimy, decaying quality of fungi-infected grass).

What to do?

While you can’t control the weather, you can control your gardening habits. Consider whether you are watering too much, too often or at the wrong time of day. Generally, morning and afternoon watering give the grass a chance to absorb the moisture. You may also ask yourself if it might not be better to water less frequently but more deeply.  

Keep your grass short but not too short – at least three inches high so that it will have enough strength to fight infection. And watch your fertilizing, checking the pH balance in the soil – optimally 5.8 to 7.2 – to ensure you don’t have too much or too little nitrogen.

You can use milky spore bacteria to combat grubs and fungicides for the fungal issue – although some experts prefer organic solutions to the fungal problem.

One thing on which the experts agree:  Your problem may require professional assistance. We at the Morano Group stand ready to help.