Unexpected white growth on soil is likely harmless fungi

Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data.

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As I was pulling up some coleus that were spot-fillers in my perennial gardens, I noticed the white growth you can see in the photo, especially where I pulled back some landscape fabric. What do you think it is? – Sandra V.

The white growth in the photos is most likely harmless fungi living on the wood mulch or organic material near the soil surface. I've seen an increased amount of similar fungi in our own wood-mulched perennial beds.

Most fungi seeing growing on the surface of mulched soil are harmless to perennials and are beneficial as they decompose organic material, breaking it down into rich soil-improving material while releasing nutrients.

Cultivating the surface, or "fluffing up" the wood mulch usually makes the visible part of the fungi disappear. Recent fall rains have increased the incidence of surface fungi.

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Now that we’ve had a few hard freezes, I figured the lawn mowing season was done. However, my lawn is still green and seems to be growing a bit. What are your thoughts about continued lawn mowing? I can’t recall ever mowing in November, but I’m not seeing winterlike weather on the horizon. – Rob P.

Our lawn is doing the same, and as long as grass is green and actively growing, it means the grass blades are photosynthesizing and manufacturing food that’s going into the root system, which is especially beneficial after the past difficult summer.

The best advice is to allow the grass to keep doing its thing, by mowing at the preferred growing season height of 3 to 4 inches. Lowering the mowing height reduces the grass blade surface area, which in turn reduces the grass’s ability to carry on photosynthesis.

For those who have already lowered their mowing height in the customary fall height reduction, don’t panic, your lawn won’t die as a result. But as long as the grass is still growing, we can give it as long as possible this fall to repair itself after this summer’s heat and drought.

Our grasses, which enjoy cool weather, will continue growth until temperatures are consistently low enough to trigger cold dormancy. The final mowing height can be reduced to around 2 inches.

I read your article about potential problems caused by limited snow cover. I’m a fan of dormant seeding, but I’m wondering if that’s advisable, given the winter forecast. – Greg T.

It will be interesting what the upcoming winter brings, and what effect it might have on dormant seeded grass.

Dormant seeding works very well, especially if winter provides a blanket of protective snow cover. A winter with little or no snow could certainly affect the success of dormant seeding.

The upcoming winter forecast, which could adversely affect seeding, probably isn’t definite enough to make us change our usual dormant seeding practices.

In late November, I’m going to go ahead and dormant seed some areas of our own lawn that were drought-injured. If the upcoming winter causes failure, I’ll reseed next spring.

More gardening columns from Don Kinzler

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The science of monitoring our climate with guest Daryl Ritchison 6d ago Mulch around a panicle hydrangea is the best winter protection Nov 7 If you have a gardening or lawn care question, email Don Kinzler, NDSU Extension-Cass County, at [email protected]. Questions with broad appeal may be published, so please include your name, city and state for appropriate advice.

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Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data.

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Don Kinzler, a lifelong gardener, is the horticulturist with North Dakota State University Extension for Cass County. Readers can reach him at [email protected].

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