Since our landscapes have enjoyed a cool, moist spring, it is time to concentrate on summer. The warmer, drier conditions will mean less mowing and weed pulling, and more time for other leisurely activities.

However, many gardeners are concerned about fungal growths such as mushrooms and sooty-gray patches popping up in various areas of the landscape. With so many things that can go wrong this time of year, often these growths are no cause for alarm.

Here are tips to stop the seasonal growths:

There are as many different types of mushrooms as there are plants in the landscape. Each is unique in color, shape and size. They all have one thing in common: the reproductive structure of fungi. Many gardeners cringe when they hear the “F” word. Rightfully so, because many fungi are highly destructive in the home vegetable and flower garden. However, in this instance, these fungi are desirable. Just as there are many damaging fungi, there is a whole other world of fungi helping us break down organic matter and releasing valuable nutrients that help plants grow. In a nutshell, they are Mother Natures recycling program.

So what can be done to stop them? Not much. They don’t need to be controlled because they are part of the natural environment. They are simply a sign of a healthy, active soil. As soon as the environmental conditions change, so will their occurrence. If they pose a problem, simply kick them over or pick them up and discard them. Do not apply lime to change the soil pH or spray commercial fungicides to kill them. Neither will help eliminate mushrooms.

The small ” sooty” grey patches are called slime mold, a primitive organism commonly found on turf. Large numbers of small grey, white, or purple fruiting structures (sporangia) form on the leaf blades during cool, humid weather throughout spring, summer and fall. Affected areas are often from several inches to about 1 foot in diameter. During wet weather, the fruiting structures may appear slimy. As the structures dry out in hot weather, they become ash-grey and break up easily when touched.

Homeowners often are concerned that this is a disease organism that will kill the grass. Actually, slime mold feeds on bacteria, other fungi, and dead organic matter. It simply uses the turf as a structure on which to grow. The only way slime mold can damage turf is by completely covering individual leaf blades and interfering with photosynthesis. The physical shading of the blades may cause the patches to turn yellow for a short period of time. However, when the dried mold is washed off with water or blown away by wind, normal growth of the plant will resume.

Because slime molds are harmless, no chemical control is necessary. Use of a broom or a heavy spray of water often is sufficient to remove the mold to reveal the healthy turf underneath.

— Bruce Chladny is horticulture agent at K-State Research and Extension-Douglas County. For more information, call him at 843-7058 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.