I was horrified to find mushrooms growing in my flower bed until I learned this 1 surprising fact

I started a brand new cut flower garden bed this spring and it's been exciting to watch seedlings appear and get bigger. After a bit of a wet spell, though, I spotted something a little unusual: mushrooms.

It can be tempting to panic when you spot mushrooms growing in the yard. You may think it's a sign of a fungal issue, and it certainly can be sometimes. But, this isn't always the case. In fact, mushrooms growing in your flower bed is often a sign of healthy, fertile soil.

If you're feeling conflicted by the sight of unexpected mushrooms appearing and you're wondering what to do about it, I've got you covered. Here's what it means if you find mushrooms growing in your flower bed and at what point you should be concerned by it.

Why are there mushrooms in my flower bed?

Just like mushrooms on the lawn, mushrooms growing in your flower bed can be a disconcerting sight. However, it's usually actually a sign of positive soil health.

This is because mushrooms help to break down organic material, which also makes their presence positive when making your own compost.

As fungi help decompose organic matter, they aid the recycling of nutrients in soil.

Their presence therefore indicates active microbial activity and fertile soil, ideal for flower beds and supporting flowering plant growth.

I found this particularly good news for my cut flower garden where I'm growing lots of annuals from seed, which need plenty of essential plant nutrients to support their growth.

You can even use mushroom compost (from Walmart) in flower beds and borders to promote healthier and more vigorous growth. It's a great fertilizer for flowers in pots and fertilizer for a vegetable garden.

So, if you find just a few mushrooms in your flower bed, it's usually nothing to worry about and should be taken as a positive sign.

If there are just a handful, you don't need to worry about removing them, either. I've found that just as these mushrooms spring up overnight, they will also disappear quickly, usually after only a day or two.

Any slight change in environment, such as the soil becoming drier or temperatures cooling down, are likely to make these short-lived fungi shrivel up.

But, if you decide you do want to remove them, you can easily pull them out by hand. Or, use a hand weeding tool like these from Amazon. Remember to remove the roots when doing this.

When are mushrooms in a flower bed problematic?

Of course, there are some scenarios where it's unfavorable to have mushrooms growing in your flower bed. Most notably, if they're taking over.

While mushrooms that crop up in flower beds aren't known to steal nutrients from plants, the concern is more in what their large volume indicate.

It could mean there is a fungal issue in your flower bed, too much moisture, and poor drainage. These are not ideal conditions for your blooms.

In fact, it could lead to root rot, fungal diseases, and even attract pests that destroy plants.

To resolve these issues, it's a good idea to put in place some drainage solutions when planting a flower bed. This includes using the same methods as improving drainage in raised beds, such as using broken pots or gravel (from Amazon) at the bottom.

Alongside mushroom growth, you're likely to also spot yellowing foliage and mushy stems if their is a moisture issue in your flower bed.

Going forward, I recommend using this soil moisture meter from Amazon ahead of watering your flower bed. It's saved me from incorrectly watering not only my flower bed, but potted plants and houseplants, too.

FAQs

Are the mushrooms growing in my flower bed toxic?

To determine whether the mushrooms growing in your flower bed are poisonous, you need to identify the type of mushrooms they are. However, generally speaking, it is not advisable to consume any fungi growing in your yard if you are unsure of its toxicity. Likewise, when pulling mushrooms out of your flower bed, take care to sue gloves and wash your hands afterwards.

Mushrooms growing in flower beds are arguably one of the least concerning sights of fungi in your yard. If you do spot them, just take care to observe they don't become excessive, as this can indicate a bigger issue with your plants' growing environment.

If you find mushrooms growing in a circle on your grass, you likely have fairy rings on your lawn. This is an indicator your lawn may need some help, for example with better irrigation.