Aftercare

Toadstools and fungi in turf

Identification

Have you seen toadstools (mushrooms) in your turf?
Have you seen white cottony material in your turf?
Has your turf ever been orange?
Have you ever observed a black sooty material in your turf?

If you have seen any of these signs you have fungi living in your turf, but don't worry, they are supposed to be there.

General Information

Fungi live in all parts of the world, and there are hundreds, possibly thousands, in turf. Fungi are the most active of all microorganisms in turf. They degrade thatch and other organic debris, supply the turf with nutrients, and sometimes cause disease on the turf. It is a bad idea to try to eliminate fungi from turf. They belong in the turf, and are part of the reason that a lawn will be beautiful, if cared for. Most of the fungi in turf are difficult to see, but there are some that will display themselves.

Toadstools or mushrooms in turf

Whilst toadstools and many mushrooms are poisonous, and none should be eaten without professional advice, there is no real biological difference between them. They are common in turf, woods, pastures, and most places where there is dead plant material. The fungi that produce toadstools also degrade (recycle) dead plant material. In fact, plant tissue is made up of several different classes of materials, and there are fungi that are specialised consumers of each class. The toadstool is not the main part of a fungus (or mould, another term that means the same as fungus). Fungi grow very fine threads called mycelium. Sometimes you can see the mycelium on the leaves of turf. It will look like cotton, and disappears as the sun dries it. Certain fungi will occasionally produce toadstools. Toadstools are the structures that produce the fruit, or seed, of the fungus. Toadstools themselves are not bad, but the fungus that produces them could cause your turf some problems.

Generally, there are two reasons that toadstools develop in turf:

Your turf has too much thatch. In this case you need to remove a significant quantity of the thatch and then reduce the amount of fertiliser you are applying.
There is buried debris under your turf. With a pocket knife, dig under a clump of toadstools and look for plant debris. If it is there, your toadstools are growing from that, not your turf. If you do find such debris under the turf, dig it out and replace the turf.

Has your turf ever looked orange?

In the late summer or autumn of the year, turf sometimes develops a rusted look. If you take your fingers and scrape a few orange leaves, you will find that your fingers turn orange. This is harmless. It is the rust fungus which is a pathogen of turf leaves, and you may need to control it.

Have you observed a sooty material on small patches of your turf?

In the warmer part of the year, small patches (50-150mm in diam.) may develop a black-grey sooty material that covers the leaves. If you take a sooty leaf and rub it between two fingers, the soot will come off. This is also harmless. You are looking at a sooty mould. Sooty moulds are not real pathogens of turf. They live on the surface of the grass leaves and use the grass only as a support. The best way to remove sooty moulds is to mow the grass. Do not worry about spreading the fungus around, it is very unlikely.

Remember: Fungi in turf are, for the most part, beneficial. Some fungi do cause disease and these will need your attention.