Mushrooms in Your Lawn? Don’t Worry — It’s Just Fall at Work!

As fall settles in, you might notice mushrooms popping up in your lawn or landscape beds. While they can appear suddenly and sometimes seem alarming, there’s no need for concern. In fact, mushrooms are a natural (and beneficial!) part of your landscape’s ecosystem.

What’s Really Going On Beneath the Surface

When temperatures cool and moisture increases, the underground network of fungi called mycelium becomes active. This mycelium is the true body of the fungus, and what you see above ground (the mushroom) is simply its “bloom.”

Just like flowers produce seeds, mushrooms produce spores that help spread the fungus to other areas.

Nature’s Clean-Up Crew

Mycelium plays an important role in breaking down old organic matter such as decaying roots, stumps, and other plant debris. As these materials decompose, nutrients are released back into the soil, making them available for your landscape plants to use. In other words, mushrooms are helping to recycle and enrich your soil naturally!

No Treatment Needed

The mushrooms themselves have a short life span. They typically appear for a few days to a week, turn brown, and disappear on their own. Because they’re just a temporary bloom of the mycelium below, there’s really no way to prevent them and no need to try.

If they bother you, you can gently remove them by hand, but rest assured: their presence is a sign that your soil is alive and healthy.