Q. Mushrooms have sprung
up overnight around some new daylilies we planted in a new raised bed. My
husband thinks the soil the plants came in contained mushroom spores. We’ve
never had mushrooms in our yard due to our dry air. Are these toxic? Will they
hurt the plants?
up overnight around some new daylilies we planted in a new raised bed. My
husband thinks the soil the plants came in contained mushroom spores. We’ve
never had mushrooms in our yard due to our dry air. Are these toxic? Will they
hurt the plants?
 |
| Mushrooms popping up in some newly planted landscape plants |
A. Don’t worry about
mushrooms popping up in planted areas. This is quite normal, particularly after
a rain, during periods of high humidity and particularly where there is shade.
The potential for growing mushrooms exist anywhere dead wood can “rot” or
decompose.
mushrooms popping up in planted areas. This is quite normal, particularly after
a rain, during periods of high humidity and particularly where there is shade.
The potential for growing mushrooms exist anywhere dead wood can “rot” or
decompose.
 |
| Mushrooms popping up in woodchip mulch after a rain |
Mushrooms pop up from soil mixed with woodchips, a thin
layer of wood chip mulch on the surface of the soil, tree roots that have died,
wood from construction that was buried and from the dead interior of trunks of even
living trees.
layer of wood chip mulch on the surface of the soil, tree roots that have died,
wood from construction that was buried and from the dead interior of trunks of even
living trees.
 |
| Slime mold, another fruiting body of a fungus, popping up in a wet area of woodchip mulch |
Mushrooms are the sexual stage of many different fungi and
easily identifies them as part of the “rotting process”. Sexual stage just
means that these mushrooms release mushroom spores from the “caps” of the
mushroom. The spores are moved about by air currents.
easily identifies them as part of the “rotting process”. Sexual stage just
means that these mushrooms release mushroom spores from the “caps” of the
mushroom. The spores are moved about by air currents.
A few fungi are “bad guys” and create plant diseases.
Others are “good guys” and responsible for breaking down undecomposed wood into
humus, compost or what might be called “black gold”. Your mushrooms are from “good
guys”. But that doesn’t mean they are safe to eat!
Others are “good guys” and responsible for breaking down undecomposed wood into
humus, compost or what might be called “black gold”. Your mushrooms are from “good
guys”. But that doesn’t mean they are safe to eat!
Most fungi that make mushrooms are classified as
“saprophytes”. This term means they feed off only dead things, not living
things. In other words, they are “decomposers” and not responsible for killing
plants.
“saprophytes”. This term means they feed off only dead things, not living
things. In other words, they are “decomposers” and not responsible for killing
plants.
Do not worry about these mushrooms harming your plants
but I would still knock them over and let them rot so they aren’t accidentally
eaten. Once knocked over, they will shrivel into nothing very quickly.
but I would still knock them over and let them rot so they aren’t accidentally
eaten. Once knocked over, they will shrivel into nothing very quickly.
Mushrooms
oftentimes pop up after rains, during periods of high humidity, and disappear
in two or three days when things dry out. The fungus network that created the
mushrooms is still there, decomposing away, but does not send up any new mushrooms
again unless there is rain or high humidity and plenty of wood to decompose.
oftentimes pop up after rains, during periods of high humidity, and disappear
in two or three days when things dry out. The fungus network that created the
mushrooms is still there, decomposing away, but does not send up any new mushrooms
again unless there is rain or high humidity and plenty of wood to decompose.