Q.
Two
years ago, we had a large tree removed due to storm damage. Now lots
of mushrooms grow in the lawn where the tree used to be. I wouldn’t
care so much, but we just got a puppy. He is constantly trying to
eat them. The mushrooms are worse during rainy weather, but are
evident even without rain. How can I get rid of them permanently?
A. The mushrooms
are the fruiting bodies of wood rotting fungi growing on the wood
left behind when your elm tree was removed. Even if the stump was
ground out, there is a lot of wood left from the tree’s roots. You
would have to physically remove all of the remaining wood to get rid
of the mushrooms. There is no chemical treatment that will prevent
their growth. Since it would be a Herculean task to remove all of
the decaying roots, it is easier to remove the mushrooms whenever
they appear. You might be able to fence the area off temporarily,
until the wood has decayed sufficiently or he outgrows his
fascination with the mushrooms.
Decaying wood is probably
buried beneath these lawns
While many species
of wild mushrooms in Pennsylvania are safe to eat and delicious,
there are many that are very toxic. Never eat wild mushrooms without
guidance from an expert. If you are interested in learning more
about wild mushrooms, check out the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom
Club at
http://www.wpamushroomclub.org
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