Have you noticed a large number of mushrooms popping up in local yards? These fungi are sometimes known as “toadstools” and can even form circles in your lawn. Better known as “Fairy Rings”, these fairly common circular manifestations are fascinating to some homeowners. Others, however, may find fairy rings a nuisance, a bother, and even an eyesore! What is the inside story on these fungi?
The first question is how do fairy rings form? Fairy rings can appear in three different forms named appropriately Type I, Type II or Type III. Type I rings appear in the lawn as a zone of dead grass with a zone of very dark green grass just inside that ring. Type II rings have a zone of dark green grass with or without a ring of mushrooms. The final type, Type III, has no evident zones of dead grass or dark green color, but simply a circle of mushrooms. These mushrooms need dead organic matter to obtain their nutrients. Fairy ring mushrooms take advantage of organic matter such as tree stumps, lumber, leaves, etc. that has been buried or is naturally present. Such organic matter will persist for many years as the fairy ring fungi slowly breaks it down. This is very natural and beneficial in the scheme of nature. The appearance of the mushrooms signals that the fungi working below ground are reproducing and will soon release spores.
Fairy rings usually start small (one foot in diameter or less) and then enlarge each year in circular or semi-circular patterns six feet or more across. Fairy rings will hang around as long as the food supply and seasonal warm, rainy weather persists – usually about five years. The intense green ring of grass that forms can be masked with good fertilizer practices that equal out the color difference. Consider these mushrooms poisonous and carefully remove and destroy them so that they are not accidentally ingested by humans or pets. Proper regular mowing will also assist in suppressing mushroom rings by chopping them up. Some fairy ring fungi actually have the ability to cause areas in the ring to repel water thus developing a drought-like, dead area under a ring of grass. To reverse this condition, break up the soil in this area and, using a wetting agent; water the ring until the soil returns to normal. While chemical controls are available, they only suppress the fungi and do nothing to remove the dark green rings or rewet the soil.
When you see circles of mushrooms, don’t fret! They will eventually go away by themselves. Enjoy the phenomenon and keep in mind that there is no long-term damage to your lawn. For more information on all types of lawn issues, or to ask a question, you can also call the Master Gardener Volunteer Helpdesk on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at 764-4340 for gardening help and insight into their role as an Extension volunteer. Ralph E. Mitchell is the Director/Horticulture Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County. He can be reached at 941-764-4344 or ralph.mitchell@charlottecountyfl.gov. Connect with us on social media. Like us on Facebook @CharlotteCountyExtension and follow us on Instagram @ifascharco.
Resource:
Elliot, M. L. & Harmon, P. F. (2018) Fairy Rings, The University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service, IFAS.
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