Mushrooms in the lawn are not a problem (and your grass will benefit from the healthy soil they create)
Mushrooms grow from underground fungal networks (mycelium) that thrive in moist, organic-rich soil. They often pop up when conditions are damp and warm — after rain, heavy watering, or in shaded, poorly drained areas.
The mushrooms you see are the fruiting bodies — the main fungus lives underground, quietly breaking down organic material, returning nutrients to the soil, and improving its structure, fertility, and moisture retention.
Many mushrooms also form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, boosting plants’ ability to absorb water and nutrients — so while they may look unexpected, they’re quietly working to keep your garden ecosystem thriving.
If you see mushrooms popping up in your lawn, they’re usually harmless and a sign of healthy, organic-rich soil. It's perfectly ok to leave them alone, but if you want to remove them, here's how:
- Remove if needed: If you don’t like how they look or worry about kids or pets, simply pick them by hand (wear gloves) and place into a bag for trash disposal. Most mushrooms are safe to touch but gloves are still a good idea. Note: they often go away on their own when the growing conditions change. Mowing is not recommended because it disperses mushroom spores.
- Don’t eat them: Many lawn mushrooms are harmless to the grass but can be toxic if eaten, so it’s safest to discard them.
- Fix the cause: Mushrooms thrive in damp, shaded areas and decaying organic matter (like old roots, buried wood, or lawn thatch). Improve drainage, aerate compacted soil, remove excessive thatch, and prune nearby trees or shrubs to let in more sun.
- No chemicals needed: Fungicides aren’t usually worth it — they only treat the visible mushrooms, not the underground fungi (which are actually beneficial for soil health).
Only 1-2% of all mushrooms are poisonous to humans, but identifying them can be difficult (and there are some poisonous law mushrooms). Never eat any mushroom you find unless you've had it properly identified by an expert.