Everything You Need To Know About Slime Mould on Your Lawn.
Remember when you were a kid and you thought courgettes/broccoli/every other vegetable was just about the worst things Mother Nature could ever conjure up, only to find out they’re not actually bad. Well, lawns are full of those kinds of examples. There are large milkweed bugs that can swarm your grass with such speed you’ll feel like you landed in the Old Testament, while powdery mildew looks like it’s taking your turf down, except neither of these things are actually that bad for your turf.
That’s where fuligo septica comes in. More commonly known as slime mould, this gross-looking organism can spread across a lawn like something out of a sci-fi movie that ends in a near-miss for Tom Cruise, only its bark is way worse than its bite, as you’re about to discover:
What Exactly is Slime Mould?
The truth is, it’s not any one thing. Instead, slime mould is more of an overarching term used to describe hundreds of different types, of which the most common is known as Dog Vomit Slime Mould or Scrambled Egg Slime, a name it got thanks to its bright yellow, bile-colored appearance.
But here’s the thing: it doesn’t just stick to lawns. Slime mould can show up in your compost bin, on mulch and even logs, although the most common is your grass. Either way, this funky fungus-like organism feeds off dead organisms and decaying organic matter and, just like lawn mushrooms and a lot of weeds, slime mould is able to spread through spores.
Does Slime Mould Cause Harm To Lawns?
No one wants to look at a lawn covered in slime mould. No one. Luckily, this organism aesthetic is the biggest cause for concern as it doesn’t actually affect a lawn’s health all that much. In fact, the worst it ever does is prevent sunlight reaching the grass beneath it, preventing patches of your lawn from partaking in a bit of photosynthesis, which can turn your grass yellow for a bit. But that’s about as bad as it gets with slime mould.
Why Is There Slime Mould On My Lawn Anyway?
It’s impossible to say with total certainty, but a lot of the time, slime mould piggybacks its way into gardens amongst wood-based mulches. From there, those gross-looking slime mould spores are able to spread out and, once they’re in, they only need three things to live their best life: moisture, warmish weather and decaying organic matter.
What’s The Best Way To Remove Slime Mould?
Bad news first, no chemical treatment is all that effective on slime mould, so it’s best to leave the chemicals alone for the sake of the planet. That said, you only need a shovel and strong constitution in order to physically remove the unsightly part of the slime mould from your grass. Just scoop it up and put it in the trash. Of course, the terms ‘remove’ and ‘eradicate;’ are two entirely different things, which is why you want to learn how to prevent slime mould in the first case.
How Do You Prevent Slime Mould?
The trick to preventing slime mould from surviving on your lawn is to eradicate one of the two controllable ingredients it needs: moisture or decaying organic matter. Starting with moisture, the only move you can make is ensuring your lawn has good drainage so that water isn’t just hanging around, which means dealing with soil compaction first off.
As for reducing the amount of decaying organic matter in your garden, the ultimate move is to dethatch your lawn, either with a rake or through a touch of scarification, and bagging all your grass clippings after you’ve mowed the grass.
Are There Any Benefits To Slime Mould?
Believe it or not, there is actually a silver lining. Because slime mould likes to feast on decaying organic matter, this weird yellow organism can help you get rid of bacteria and pathogens found in your garden; the kind that might cause problems for your grass plants. Thanks, slime mould.
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