Why do you have mushrooms in your lawn?

Mushrooms are a fungus, and most fungi are able to propagate when something is decaying. In your lawn, when mushrooms pop up, it usually means something is dead and decaying beneath the surface.

It could be  from buried construction debris, old tree stumps and roots, and even a buried pet that causes mushrooms to appear in your lawn. A popular mushroom pattern seen in lawns is called a “Fairy Ring” which is just a group of shrooms growing up from an old tree stump.

Some types of mushrooms also may grow due to soil conditions and pooling water. Whatever the reason, it is really nothing to be overly concerned about. Mushrooms only look bad, and don’t really cause any harm to your lawn. However, many homeowners are concerned about the presence of mushrooms in relation to their young children or pets and the possibility of them ingesting them.

How to get rid of Mushrooms in your lawn

If you see mushrooms, try to think back about what might have been there years ago. Did you cut down an old tree there? Did you dig a shallow grave for your beloved pet?

Whatever the case, you can try digging up the area and removing the source of decay. In some cases, this may to be feasible, so here is an old home remedy that I used with very good success:

* First, break off the mushrooms with our lawn mower or a shovel.
* Second, mix up some liquid dish soap (about 1/4 cup) in 3 gallons of warm water.
* Third, saturate the mushrooms and surround areas with the mixture. Make more as needed until the entire area is covered with the soapy water.
* Fourth, repeat these steps again in one week.

The dish soap will not harm the grass, but something in it seems to neutralize the fungal growth. This is just a temporary fix, and you may need to try it again in a couple months, but it DOES WORK!

LIFE & LAWN

If you’re looking to add flair and character to an open space or just a corner of your yard - wishing wells make a great addition.

Depending on how you go about acquiring your well, either through Craigslist, buying the lumber, stone, or a prefab – this will dectate how much costs are involved, along with labor.  Odds are, for a no frills wishing well, you’re looking at $20 -400.00.

There are all types of wells out there to choose from.  If you plan to go with a wooden model, we recommend that you make sure the well is constructed out of cedar.  This will give the well a few additional years over pine and won’t require extensive cleaning and treating.

You should know that any wooden well is going to turn after spending some time out in the elements.  Sanding and treating will prolong the look of the well, but ultimately, mother nature will over come all your hard work.  Though, some people appreciate the character given to a weathered well.  It’s up to you.

Most of our lawns are now in full bloom and growing like wild fire. We’ve had plenty of rain and plenty of sun. So, what do you do if you have one of those lawns where every year, you have pockets of dead grass; where nothing seems to want to grow?

Have you tried reseeding and fertilizers every year and it still didn’t help?

One thing you might want to try this year is the Roll Out Grass. It’s fairly simple – just take the woven roll, spread it on the portion of lawn you want grass to grow on, then water it from time to time.

For the price and time it takes to place on your lawn, it looks like a pretty good deal…pending the results your looking for.

ROLL OUT GRASS

Stream Landscaping

Just to give an idea of a man made gentle rolling brook in the yard I have pasted an image of one below.  This one is in So.Cal and just imagine yourself walking outside and relaxing beside this.

A good lawn is the starting point for any successful home garden. Lawns are created for aesthetic use in gardens, and for recreational use, including sports. They are typically planted near homes, often as part of gardens, and are also used in other ornamental landscapes and gardens. New lawns can be made almost any time, however, no matter when you make a new lawn, there are certain steps that must be followed if you want a deep root system and a thick, healthy top growth.

Starting A Lawn

A lawn usually contains a combination of many grass types. It is essential to pick the right type, use a blend that is recommended for your area. Just as a plant that thrives in dry soil will likely die in a boggy spot, an out-of-place grass will grow poorly or not at all. After making a choice, you can either start grass from seeds or put live plants in the ground (that means sod). Sod is the quickest, easiest way to start a new lawn but usually the most expensive. Sod yields a usable lawn in a few weeks. You might be able to lay a section of sod yourself, but large jobs probably demand professional installation. Grass seed is generally much cheaper than sod and can be sown by a do-it-yourselfer. However, it requires extensive preparation, timing, and careful follow-up care. You’ll need patience, too, because seeded lawns can take months to establish. Sometimes some grasses just don’t even start well from seed so you have no other choice except to go for sods.

Preparation

Whether you sod or seed, your soil must be grass-friendly: deep, crumbly, fertile, and well-draining. These are essential requirements and must be adhered to before laying the grass in the lawn. Build up shallow soil with a few inches of weed-free topsoil. Improve the soil condition by working in compost, manure, or other organic matter. Solve drainage problems by changing the grade of your yard or installing a subsurface drainage system.