How to get rid of mushrooms on your lawn
Mushrooms on the lawn cause a lot of trouble for summer residents and gardeners. They grow quickly, it is not always possible to quickly cope with them. There are ways to completely destroy the mushroom colonies growing on the site.
Getting rid of mushrooms on the lawn
Creation of an unfavorable microclimate
Changing the environment and creating an unfavorable microclimate for fungal colonies is one way to get rid of fungi on your lawn. To do this, regulate air circulation and the level of moisture in the deep layers of the soil, which implies:
- mowing the grass as it grows in areas where the mycelium has sprouted;
- keeping watering to a minimum; excess water accumulated in the ground acts as a favorable environment for growing mushrooms;
- removal from the site of all vegetation residues susceptible to decay processes, including those left after dead trees, hemp, dead rhizomes, humus, biological debris, etc. decay creates comfortable conditions for the growth of myceliums;
- regular disposal of animal excrement;
- increasing the illumination of the site by thinning plantings, creating the greatest distance between tree branches ..
Application of aeration technology
The processes of aeration and scarification of the lawn consist in the removal of the upper (felt) layer and the piercing of the soil, respectively, for the efficiency of the absorption of mineral complexes by the earth, better access of water, oxygen and the supply of sunlight to the root system of the lawn vegetation.
Aeration is carried out using a conventional rake with a base width of 30 cm or more, or using electric and gasoline aerators. As a result, the teeth and sharp blades penetrate the upper layers, making cuts in the plant roots, uniformly shaping the density of the grass.
The aeration procedure is carried out regularly, after every 2-3 lawn mowing. It is especially effective before fertilization. Do not use aeration of the lawn area if the ground is wet or excessively dry.
Aeration of the site is carried out in the spring, after the snow cover melts, when the grass dries up. During the procedure, it is not recommended to immerse the blade or teeth to a depth of more than 10 cm.
Scarification is a way to improve the efficiency of penetration of air and water to a sufficient depth. It makes it possible to prevent rotting of residues in the soil, which favors the growth of fungi. Do it 2 times a year - initially at the beginning of spring, again - at the beginning of autumn. After scarification, the lawn is watered.
Application of fertilizers and fungicides
Fertilizers with nitrogen have a bad effect on mushroom growth, so they are used to clean the lawn.
Nitrogen fertilizers can help remove fungi
Fungicidal agents are sprayed on fungal colonies, however, this method of control is considered short-lived, since after a short amount of time, mushrooms appear again.The most preferred method is to insert the preparation into the depressions formed around the growth of the mycelium.
The use of toxic chemicals, including herbicides, causes significant damage to the soil and destroys the crops growing on it.
If mushrooms grow on the lawn, antiseptic agents will help against them:
- copper sulfate with a solution concentration of 0.2% (20 g of powder per 10 liters of water);
- household dishwashing detergents, diluted at the rate of 2-3 tbsp. 7 liters of water;
- ferrous sulfate, used at the rate of 10 g / l of water per 1 m2 plot.
Irina Selyutina (Biologist):
To prevent the appearance of fungi on the lawn, you can colonize the soil of the so-called. "Friendly" microflora grass - beneficial bacteria and microscopic fungi. The lawn resuscitator "Embiko", "Baikal" is used as a source of such microflora. These preparations "eat" excess organic matter and turn it into vermicompost. As a result, there will be no food for the cap mushrooms that have chosen the lawn in your area as their habitat.
Advice. It makes sense to completely "plant" turf on mineral nutrition. Plants will perfectly assimilate these fertilizers, and for mushrooms they will be out of the “access zone”. The mushrooms will starve and die after a while.
Agrotechnical measures
Agrotechnical measures include a number of measures to get rid of mushrooms growing on the lawn in a fairly short time.
Liming
The introduction of limestone into the soil and the treatment of the grass surface with it reduces the acidity of the soil necessary for the growth of fungi. Limestone application rate - 100-200 g / m². The liming procedure is carried out in late autumn. Attention! Carrying out liming requires monitoring the soil with a pH meter or special test strips. For plants, the acidity is optimal in the range of 5.5-6.5.
Sanding
Sanding creates a kind of drainage system that prevents stagnation of moisture, which contributes to the growth of mycelium. River sand is distributed on the surface with a layer of 2-3 mm. The procedure is carried out in the fall, while its combination with liming is permissible.
Digging up the lawn
Complete removal of the soil layer with fungi growing on it to a depth of 60 cm and 60 cm outside from the center of growth of the mycelium prevents the spread of the fungal colony. The resulting funnel is filled with healthy soil and sown with a grass mixture.
Hand picking
Regular collection of mushrooms on the lawn allows you to get rid of them over time, if you collect them, pulling out the mushrooms from the area of soil adjacent to the fruiting body, while destroying the mycelium. Mechanical harvesting of the mushroom harvest also prevents the proliferation of fungal spores through which they multiply. Attention! Mowing a lawn with growing mushrooms is not allowed - this is a direct path to the spread of spores throughout the territory.
Conclusion
The main measures to destroy growing mushrooms on the lawn are: creating unfavorable conditions, aeration and scarification of the soil, lowering acidity by introducing limestone, creating good drainage to avoid stagnation of moisture by sanding, manually harvesting the mushroom harvest and digging up the area sown with mycelium and replacing it with a new one.
