Early-summer warmth and water often bring a different kind of bloom: mushrooms in shady corners and gray or brown blotches creeping across turf. Not every fungal guest signals trouble. Fairy-ring mushrooms feed on buried wood and vanish after mowing, while slime molds appear as colorful foam on mulch and fade once surfaces dry.

Other fungi merit closer attention. Dollar spot forms straw-colored circles, especially on lawns that are under-fed or kept too short. Leaf spot and rust leave flecks and streaks on mower blades, shoes and paws, thriving during humid stretches. 

Balanced nutrition, taller mowing heights and morning irrigation limit the growth of unwanted fungi by strengthening turf and drying dew quickly. If patches expand despite good care, a professional assessment ensures targeted treatment rather than blanket chemicals. Distinguishing harmless decomposers from aggressive pathogens keeps fungal visitors in perspective, safeguarding lawn health while honoring nature’s tireless recyclers. 

Patti Beres is the owner of Be Green Pro LLC, sustainable landscape services, in southeastern Wisconsin. For more information, call 262-361-4034 or visit BeGreen.pro.