mushrooms in new sod…

Greenmachine posted 01 September 2003 09:03

It’s been 1 week now in sunny, hot Los Angeles and my new sod has been doing well I think though now mushrooms are sprouting all of a sudden. Pretty much all over the place. The sod is tall fescue with 10% kentucky bluegrass. My watering schedule is: 6:30am = 12 minutes; 10:30am = 15 minutes; 2:30pm = 15 minutes; 6:30pm = 10 minutes. I haven’t changed this watering pattern since the beginning a week ago but the mushrooms have suddenly begun sprouting 1 day ago. What can I do?

Dchall_San_Antonio – posted 01 September 2003 16:23

Change your watering schedule to this.

Monday – 6:30am-7:30am (60 minutes)Monday – 6:30am-7:30am (60 minutes)Monday – 6:30am-7:30am (60 minutes)Monday – 6:30am-7:30am (60 minutes)Monday – 6:30am-7:30am (60 minutes)Monday – 6:30am-7:30am (60 minutes)Monday – 6:30am-7:30am (60 minutes)

By keeping your turf moist all the time, you’re setting your turf up to grow mushrooms. If you let it dry out FULLY between waterings, you’ll very seldom get any fungus. Also by deep infrequent watering, you will develop a deep root structure that is very drough resistant.

Your current regimen will develop roots about 1/2 inch deep. They may not even penetrate the soil at all since they can get water in just a few minutes anyway. You should be looking for roots 8 inches deep eventually.

And just to pick a nit, if you’re hot, you’re not in Los Angeles. I lived there for 10 years and had to carry a jacket or sweater for 3,650 days in a row. Sunny? -yes, Hot? -very rarely. The suburbs are where it’s hot. Lived there, too.

But anyway, mushrooms are harmless. Just practice your golf swing or kick them over.