With the past few weeks of rain and thunderstorms, many of you may be seeing the arrival of mushrooms in your garden and on your lawn. Are they good for your garden or not? Firstly, fungi are always around us. They live as mycelium in the soil. When you see a mushroom appear, it is in the process of reproducing. It is spreading spores that will eventually become new mushrooms. Fungi, like all life, do well when there is plenty of water available, which is why multiple days of wet conditions have them sprouting up on lawns across Dallas. In the vast majority of cases, fungi are a good sign. They help break down dead organic matter, which provides nutrients for plants by causing decomposition to occur almost twice as fast. Aiding in decomposition is especially usefully if you are using a wood mulch in your garden, which I often do. Last week I found bird's nest fungi in some of my outdoor potted plants. I had no idea what it was; I wasn't even aware that it was a type of fungus. Through some internet research, I discovered that finding bird’s nest fungus in mulch is pretty common and actually helpful. It breaks down large chunks of wood mulch into small slivers that will enrich the soil. Read below for more on bird's nest fungus. While fungi are almost always a good thing, one exception is fungus forming on trees (google "shelf fungus"). In most cases, fungi goes for organic material that is already beginning to die or decay, so when it grows on living plants and trees, that plant or tree is most likely on its way out anyway. Definitely something to watch out for in your lawn and garden. What is Bird’s Nest Fungus? Bird’s nest fungi in gardens are common in moist, cool locations, especially in autumn. They prefer rich soil, animal feces, decaying wood, and plant debris. As soon as you see it, you will recognize why this species has its name. Bird’s nest fungi have the appearance of a cup-shaped nest with little spheres inside that resemble eggs. The cup shape is actually the reproductive part of the fungus, which holds lentil-shaped capsules that contain spores. The tiny fungi are not dangerous to plants and help break down organic matter. Therefore, bird’s nest fungus control isn’t truly necessary, unless the sight of them just irks you. I think they are cute! If you are in Dallas and ready to start a garden this fall, we would love to help. Time is running out!
Click Book Now on Facebook, or click Services on pottingwithpotter.com to setup a consult in the coming weeks. Happy planting!
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