Mushrooms

Why do mushrooms grow in my yard?

Mushrooms are the above-ground fruiting bodies of fungi that live in the soil and feed on decaying organic matter such as old roots, stumps and thatch; because a fungus grows outward from a central point, they often come up in a circle that widens each year (Clemson Extension). Most do not harm the lawn, and they disappear by themselves when the weather turns dry or colder, while the fungus carries on unseen. The exception is fairy ring: rings or arcs of dark green or dying grass, where the fungus makes the soil repel water. Clemson suggests patience, soaking the soil for several hours over several days, and aerating the lawn.