How to Deal with Mulch Fungus

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How to Deal with Mulch Fungus

Mulch is one of the most valuable tools you can use in your landscaping activities. Its benefits are numerous and it can even help to improve the overall style of your property. Unfortunately, mulch can suffer from one frustrating issue. Mulch fungus is a real risk for people who love to use mulch in their lawn. There’s nothing worse than walking out into your yard after the winter to notice a nice patch of slime mold all over your mulch. Some landscapers even call this mold dog vomit thanks to its appearance. If you are suffering from the dreaded mulch fungus, it isn’t the end of the world. There are several ways you can deal with mulch fungus and keep your garden or landscaping looking great. Keep reading on to learn about what mulch fungus is, why it forms, and how to get rid of it. Remember that you can purchase the best mulch and other landscaping products at Cal Blend Soils Inc. for the absolute best prices.

What is Mulch Fungus?

Any time you have organic matter mixed with moisture, there’s a good chance that mold will form. This dog vomit mulch fungus mulch is a Plasmodium. That means it is essentially one giant cell with millions of nuclei. Two spores come together and you end up with mold in your mulch. It normally happens in a damp or wet condition when bacteria start eating your mulch. The bacteria continue to grow and create spores which eventually grow into the dog vomit mold you are likely accustomed to. Mulch doesn’t necessarily cause mold but rather works in a symbiotic relationship with the mold. The fungi and mold break down the mulch as a part of its natural process. These mold patches come in a variety of colors like brown, white, black, orange, and bright pink. It can certainly be an eyesore, but it’s a natural part of plant life that you shouldn’t worry too much about. The good news is that this mold is not harmful to your plants or flowers. It’s also safe for you to touch, but you probably don’t like the way it makes your garden or landscaping look.

How to Prevent Mulch Fungus from Growing

There are plenty of steps you can take to avoid mulch fungus in your garden. First, you need to make sure you are choosing your mulch type wisely. Pine bark and cedar mulch are good mulch options that aren’t as prone to growing mulch mold and fungus. Another great way to prevent mulch from getting moldy is to regularly rake your mulch. Mold needs moisture and a damp environment to grow and flourish, which is why raking can help so much. Raking your mulch regularly allows it to dry out and receive fresh air which prevents mold from growing.

Try to set a regular schedule for watering your plants too. This can help to combat mold in a big way. Think about this, if you are watering your plants every day, your mulch is wet every day. That means you are helping to create the perfect damp environment for mold to grow on your mulch. Instead, try to water your plants once or twice per week to give your mulch time to dry out. It’s better to give your plants a heavy watering because light watering leaves a lot of moisture on your mulch instead of reaching the plant roots as you want. Lastly, try to avoid overwatering your plants with sprinklers. Sprinklers watering your plants every day will pretty much create the perfect environment for mold to grow on your mulch. If you do have mulch with mold on it, you can try any of the techniques above. On the other hand, you can wait until it completes its natural lifespan. At the end of the mold’s lifecycle, it will dry out and become a pile of powder that you can easily rinse off with a garden hose.

Why Use Mulch?

Mulch is a fantastic product to add to your landscaping. It adds a ton of benefits to your property and can be a great way for improving the overall appearance of your lawn. Mulch actually helps to insulate the soil and provide a nice buffer for extremely hot and cold temperatures. That means during a scorching hot summer day, the roots of your plants will have a barrier between them and the sun. Mulch is also great because it helps to keep weeds out of your landscape. Weeds are common garden pests that can rob your favorite plants of the nutrients and water that they need. Mulch helps to prevent weeds from ever taking root and competing with the plants that you actually want in your garden. Another big benefit of mulch is that it can prevent soil compaction, which is important in the long term. There are plenty of other benefits associated with using mulch, but the best way to learn about them is to purchase mulch for your own yard. You can find the best mulch and landscaping products on the market at Cal Blend Soils Inc.

We hope this article has provided you with some great information about mulch mold and how you can avoid it. Remember that mold on your mulch isn’t harmful and that it can often be prevented by choosing the right type of mulch and regulating the amount of water you provide to your landscaping. Regularly raking out your mulch is another great way to avoid mulch mold, as the air can dry out the mulch and prevent mold from growing in a damp environment. If you have any additional questions about mulch mold or mulch in general, you can reach out to the pros at Cal Blend Soils Inc. We are experts in landscaping and love to help our customers achieve the gardens and landscapes of their dreams.