QuestionI recently had my front yard landscaped. The landscaper put all new mulch in the new beds. We had 7-8 days of rain during a hurricane that hit our area and the mulch began sprouting a strange looking growth. I have pics if there is some way to post. I have looked on the Internet about this growth and it seems to be birds nest fungus. It has taken over all of my mulch it is everywhere and continuing to spread. What can be done about this and what are the repercussions of having it in my yard with all the new shrubs and trees and plants?
AnswerHI Susan, It's a nuisance but it will not hurt your plants. It is quite common on decomposing trees and mulch. Some suggest removing the "birds nest" to prevent the spores from maturing, however I just blast them apart with a water hose as soon as I see them. Fluff your mulch frequently and you can spray it with bordeaux mix or a copper soap fungicide to help prevent its return. A home remedy you might try is 1 part dishwashing liquid to 20 parts water and poured over the area. Jim
