How to Get Rid of Mushrooms in Your Yard

If mushrooms are taking over your yard, there are easy ways to deal with them. Clean up debris that traps moisture, fix drainage problems, pull the mushrooms out by hand, or treat them with vinegar or baking soda to keep them under control. 

Although mushrooms can make your yard look a little wild, they’re not harmful. According to Ben Vogel, a master gardener and community educator at the University of Minnesota Extension, “mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of a larger underground fungus called mycelium.” He says their presence means your soil is full of beneficial microbes that recycle nutrients and keep it healthy. 

Still, frequent growth can signal too much shade, poor drainage, or decaying organic matter — all things you can improve for a healthier yard. In this guide, I’ll show you how to eliminate mushrooms and keep them from appearing again. 

Pull mushrooms by hand

Mushrooms are a natural part of a healthy soil ecosystem, but not everyone likes the look of them popping up in the yard. 

Karla Griesbaum, extension specialist at the University of Illinois Extension, notes that it’s fine to leave them alone if they don’t bother you. “However, if you are worried about consumption by pets (some are toxic) or do not like the sight of them, I would recommend physical removal shortly after their appearance with gloved hands,” she says.

Vogel also advises picking mushrooms early. While removing them doesn’t eliminate the underground fungus, it helps prevent spores from spreading and inhibits regrowth.  

How to do it:

• Wear gloves. 
• Grasp the mushroom at the base and pull it out. I like to carry a bucket of soapy water while I work. I drop each mushroom into the bucket so the soap kills the spores and prevents spreading.
• For stubborn mushrooms, use a trowel to loosen the soil. 
• Toss mushrooms into a sealed plastic bag and dispose of them in the trash. 

Read more: What Causes Mushrooms in My Yard?

Mow regularly

Keeping your lawn well-trimmed helps prevent the damp, shady conditions that mushrooms like. Overgrown grass traps moisture at the soil level and can hide small mushrooms, allowing them to spread spores. While mowing won’t eliminate the underground fungus, it supports a drier, healthier lawn overall. 

How to do it:

• Mow at the recommended height for your grass type. Never cut more than ⅓ of the grass blade at a time. Maintain sharp mower blades to avoid damaging your grass.
• Use a bagging attachment to collect clippings, especially when mushrooms are present. Mowing over them without a bagging attachment can spread spores across your yard. 

Read more: 

• How to Mow a Lawn the Right Way 
• What’s the One-Third Rule of Mowing     

Spray with vinegar

Vinegar is a popular home remedy thanks to its strong acidity. Many people use it to kill weeds, and sometimes mushrooms. However, Griesbaum cautions that “using vinegar or other chemicals to eliminate mushrooms will most often not get rid of the entire underground network of fungus and can harm plants and grass as well.”

If you still want to try it, use horticultural vinegar, which contains around 20% acetic acid. Regular household vinegar isn’t strong enough. Always apply carefully.  

How to do it:

• Mix 1 part vinegar with 4 parts water in a spray bottle or pump sprayer.
• Choose a dry, calm day. Apply directly onto the mushroom cap. When I apply vinegar, I like to use a piece of cardboard or a plastic lid with a hole to shield surrounding areas. This trick lets me target mushrooms with precision without burning my lawn. 
• Repeat if new mushrooms appear.

Read more: Does Vinegar Kill Weeds? 

Sprinkle baking soda

Baking soda is another common remedy. It raises the soil’s pH level, creating an environment that mushrooms don’t like. It may dry out or kill the visible mushrooms, but unless you fix the underlying cause, such as moisture or decaying matter, they’ll return. 

Vogel explains that “household products such as vinegar or baking soda are not effective and can harm turf. They burn the surface fruiting bodies but leave the underground fungal network untouched.”

Still, if you want to experiment, baking soda is considered fungistatic, says Linda Chalker-Scott at Washington State University. She explains that baking soda can slow fungal growth but won’t eliminate it. It’s a safe option, though using too much can make the soil too alkaline. 

How to do it:

• Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 gallon of water.
• Pour the solution into a spray bottle or watering can.
• Spray or pour it over the mushrooms and the surrounding soil.
• Reapply weekly or after rain. 

Pour dish soap solution

Dish soap breaks down a mushroom’s outer layer, killing the visible part and slowing surface growth. It won’t kill the underground mycelium, but it’s a quick fix. 

Eva Maria Pabon, a horticulture agent at the University of Florida’s IFAS Extension, says mushrooms are helpful in that they feed on decaying matter and signal healthy soil. Still, if you want them gone, try a dish soap solution. 

How to do it:

• Mix 1-2 tablespoons of dish soap into a gallon of water. I always use biodegradable soap; it treats the fungus problem without harming my lawn’s natural balance. 
• Poke holes around the base of each mushroom.
• Pour the soapy water slowly into each hole.
• Spray the top of the mushrooms. 

Read more: Does Dish Soap Kill Lawn Pests, and Is it Safe?

Reduce excess moisture

Mushrooms thrive in damp spots caused by overwatering, poor drainage, and compacted soil. Julie Weisenhorn and Bob Mugaas at the University of Minnesota Extension note that mushrooms often appear after heavy rain or excess watering. They are rarely indicative of a lawn disease. 

“Water less often but more deeply, and irrigate in the morning,” recommends Vogel. This allows the soil to dry out during the day, making conditions less favorable for fungi.  

Griesbaum also suggests planting water-loving native plants in very wet areas. These plants absorb excess moisture, improve drainage, and help balance the ecosystem in soggy areas. 

How to do it:

• Adjust your watering schedule. Lawns typically need no more than 1 inch per week, including rainfall. 
• Water early in the morning to allow the grass to dry throughout the day.
• Inspect your lawn for areas where water pools after rain and consider regrading or installing drainage solutions to redirect water flow.
• Aerate compacted soil to improve water infiltration and reduce surface runoff.
• Ensure gutters and downspouts direct water away from the lawn to prevent oversaturation in specific areas. 

Read more:

• How Long Should You Water Your Lawn?
• Lawn Drainage Solutions

Minimize shade

Mushrooms tend to appear in shady, damp parts of the lawn. The antidote is more sunlight. Cut low-hanging tree limbs and trim shrubs to improve light penetration and airflow. In some cases, it might even be necessary to remove crowded or poorly placed trees. 

Remove decaying organic matter

Mushrooms thrive on decaying materials like roots, buried wood, and thick thatch. According to Olen, “They are obligate parasites”, meaning they depend on decomposing organic matter for food and nutrients. Since they lack chlorophyll, he explains, mushrooms cannot produce their own food and instead depend on the natural decay happening in the soil.  

Weisenhorn and Mugaas point out that mushrooms are often part of nature’s cleanup crew, breaking down dead plant material and returning nutrients into the soil. However, if you want to limit their growth, you can reduce their food sources by raking up dead grass and leaves in the spring, and aerating your lawn to improve drainage. 

How to do it:

• Rake up leaves, plant debris, and dead grass.
• Remove leftover roots after taking out trees.
• Aerate once a year to loosen compacted soil.
• If you have a layer of ½ thatch, dethatch to remove it and help the soil breathe. 
• Use only 2 to 4 inches of mulch and keep it off the lawn edges. 

Apply fungicides only if needed

“For ordinary mushrooms, fungicides aren’t necessary,” says Vogel. These products don’t reach the underground fungus, so they rarely solve the problem. 

Griesbaum agrees: “Unless you are facing a distinct fungal infection of a tree or other plant, and this has been identified by an arborist or other professional, I do not recommend using fungicides on lawns.” Fungi, she says, are a part of a healthy soil ecosystem.

Robert Olen, horticulturist at the University of Minnesota Extension, adds, “There are no fungicides recommended for control.” He suggests that homeowners focus instead on removing decaying wood or other organic material in the soil. Applying a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer, he says, can help speed up natural decay.   

How to do it:

• Only use fungicides if a professional diagnoses a fungal disease and recommends a specific product. 
• Follow their guidance closely for safe and effective results. 

Read more: How to Identify and Treat Grass Fungus

Need a hand with your yard?

Mushrooms are manageable with a few smart changes, like improving drainage and reducing organic buildup. If they keep coming back, LawnLove can connect you with a local expert. Whether it’s a yard cleanup, professional mowing, or help from a fungus and weed control specialist, getting the right support can save you time and bring your lawn back to its best. 

Main Image Credit: Mushrooms grow in a lawn. Photo Credit: Vanessa Bentley / Adobe Stock

Cecilia Acevedo

Cecilia is your home expert with a focus on gardens. When she's not writing about cozy living, she's digging into the world of gardening. Cecilia shares down-to-earth tips to make your outdoor space thrive. Get ready to roll up your sleeves and join her in cultivating a greener life through her stories full of gardening insights and a love for the great outdoors.

Posts by Cecilia Acevedo