The 62p trick to stop mushrooms growing in your grass – it’s pet-friendly and won’t damage your soil
A HOMEOWNER shared the DIY technique she swears by for stopping mushrooms from popping up on her lawn.
She explained that her simple hack prevented the fungi from growing in her garden.
Commenting on a Reddit post, user Junkman21 revealed the household item she uses to protect her grass.
She responded to a recommendation to use baking soda to tackle wild mushroom growth.
“Baking soda in large enough quantities adjusts your soil’s pH,” she said.
She cautioned gardeners to “be careful with stuff like that,” adding that the required amount to kill mushroom spores is likely to damage your grass.
Instead, the Redditor recommended using dish soap to tackle mushrooms on your lawn.
“Honestly, other than picking them as soon as you see them, the only other thing to do is spray with water and a bit of dish soap,” she explained.
According to experts at Lawn.com, you should physically remove the visible mushrooms from your lawn first.
“Pour a few drops of dish soap and water into the hole where you dug up the mushroom,” they advised.
They explained that this will prevent new mushrooms from growing on your grass.
Dish soap acts as a mild fungicide for your lawn and, when diluted with water, can be effective without damaging your soil.
You can pick up a bottle of dish soap from Sainsbury’s for just 69p.
The green-fingered poster also shared “some basic prevention” tips to look after your grass long-term.
She recommended revising your lawn’s drainage is you’re constantly finding mushrooms in your grass.
Mushrooms thrive in damp conditions so ensuring your soil doesn’t retain too much rain is a vital step in prevention.
You should also aerate your lawn to prevent further growth of mushroom spores.
Conditions mushrooms grow in
Mushrooms may pop up in your garden if the conditions are ideal. These include:
- Moist or damp areas, including poorly drained soil.
- Shaded, damp, boggy corners and spaces protected from air flow such as beneath overhanging shrubs.
- Areas rich in organic matter, including thatch layers, grass clippings, fallen leaves, and decaying wood.
- Warm and humid areas as mushrooms love moisture.
Mushroom spores appear in damp dark areas so encouraging sunlight in your garden is another must.
Keeping on top of your other lawn chores is a necessity when it comes to preventing fungus growth.
Bag any loose grass cuttings and rake fallen leaves from your lawn regularly.
Keeping your lawn de-thatched is another way to prevent mushroom growth.
You should also remove old tree stumps as they tend to become breeding grounds for mushrooms.