- 1). Search your yard for any dead tree stumps. Decaying organic matter is the source of food for mushrooms, and removing any you find will decrease the mushroom problem. If you find any dead tree stumps, call a tree service to have them removed. Have the service remove any dead roots below the surface as well.
- 2). Remove any waste from pets and throw it in the garbage.
- 3). Remove any visibly decaying leaf matter, branches, compost or mulch. These are all breeding grounds for mushroom spores.
- 4). Pull up mushrooms as they appear and throw them away. Gently grasp the mushroom at the base of the stalk and twist it to pull it out of the ground without releasing spores.
- 5). Run a lawn aerator across the grass twice a year. A lawn aerator is a small device that drives 2-inch spikes into the soil. This will increase the air circulation of the lawn, and will also improve the water absorption of the soil. Both of these improved conditions help lessen the likelihood that mushrooms will regrow.
- 6). Run a lawn dethatcher across the lawn twice a year. A lawn dethatcher is a specialized rake that pulls up decaying organic material just below the surface. Dethatching the lawn removes the food source of many mushrooms.
- 7). Apply a nitrogen fertilizer to your lawn according to the package directions. The fertilizer should spread one part nitrogen for every 1,000 square feet of lawn.
- 8). Dig up the infested soil if the mushrooms continue to grow after you've tried all the other troubleshooting methods. Make the hole 1 foot deep to ensure you remove all the fungal spores. Refill the hole with potting soil that does not contain any organic matter.
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