Question
Jim, i had an oak tree removed from my yard a few years back and now i have "fungus" growing up through my lawn (where the tree was) that is white and thumb like.  It appears to be attached to the dead tree roots. Is there a way to control or get rid of the fungus?  It is ruining my lawn.  Dovel Rock

Answer
This is a fungus that is breaking down the dead roots (seeding up the rotting process). What you are seeing is the fruiting bodies of the fungi.  It will not infect the grass and will disappear when the roots are rotted. There is not really a way to control the fruiting.

As long as the fungi in the soil have a food source, the mushrooms will likely make their presence in your yard. From mid summer months through the late fall months, when the weather seems to be most damp, the mushrooms will usually sprout in your lawn overnight. Sometimes they are extremely noticeable, but sometimes they are really small. Getting rid of lawn mushrooms is a difficult to impossible task, but the following paragraphs will provide you with some helpful suggestions for getting rid of lawn mushrooms.

Many people do not like the sight of mushrooms in their yard, and most people spend a lot of time getting rid of lawn mushrooms. Continual removal is one way of getting rid of lawn mushrooms, but it can be time consuming, sometimes a never-ending task. Continual removal will keep your lawn "looking" nice, but the source of the mushrooms will still be there - fungi in your lawn soil, and when conditions are right, the lawn mushrooms will return.

Most people seek to find a more permanent solution in getting rid of their lawn mushrooms. There is only one sure-fire way of permanently getting rid of lawn mushrooms, and that is removal or exhaustion of their food sources. Having old tree stumps ground when trees are removed can help.
The mushrooms need to run their course, which is digesting the decaying organic matter from the old tree that was taken out years ago. If you back off on the watering somewhat, that will stop or at least slow down the showing of the mushrooms.

A personal side note--I know a Dovel Rock that lived in Montgomery and moved near Moundviile-- Do you happen to be this Dovel Rock? If so email me at [email protected]