Fairy rings menace: Gardeners battling mushroom invasion
Unusual mushroom rings have begun to appear again on lawns. Gardeners warn that if you ignore the first symptoms, the phenomenon can destroy the entire lawn.
To some, they resemble fairy-tale images, while others still associate them with ancient beliefs. However, fairy rings are far from a fairy tale—gardeners call them a lawn disease and treat them as a serious problem. The mushrooms that create the rings grow underground, which is why their presence remains unnoticed for a long time. When they start to pop up, it might be too late to save the perfectly green lawn.
Once they appear, they return every year
The fungal mycelium of fairy rings spreads radially, taking over larger areas of the lawn. Mushrooms appear on the outer edges of the rings, and the grass in the center often withers or dies. The mushrooms grow intensively in favorable conditions, such as moisture and warm soil, and the rings can reach several yards in diameter.
Simply collecting mushrooms from the surface is not enough. The fruiting bodies are just the "tip of the iceberg," as an invisible network of mycelium develops under the turf, producing new specimens every year. Without the gardener's intervention, the phenomenon will only intensify.
Care and prevention
To limit mushroom growth, a gardener should maintain proper lawn care. Regular mowing, removing cut grass, watering, and fertilizing are essential. In the spring, it is worthwhile to perform verticutting, which means thoroughly cleaning the turf of dead matter, and aeration—the process of ventilating the soil.
If the mushrooms still return, gardeners resort to fungicides. While fungicides do not eliminate the problem, they help stop the growth of the mycelium. The key to success, however, lies in consistency and observation. Only regular monitoring of the lawn's condition allows for quick reactions and the restoration of the garden's former glory.
