When you see a black mushroom growing from the ground, it means that the mushroom spores have made their way to the surface and there has been a change in the conditions of your yard that promote the growth of the mushroom.
Black mushrooms appreciate organic materials, shade, extended periods of moisture, and warm humid temperatures.
Mushrooms are a parasite and need a host in order to gain nutrients to grow.
Black mushrooms are dependent on fallen wood and logs from deciduous trees such as,
- oak
- maple trees
- or sawdust
So, black mushrooms will only grow if there is organic material present in your backyard.
Black mushrooms will also bloom as a result of too much moisture in the yard and therefore excessive rain or overwatering or poor drainage from the yard.
If there is shade, this will also promote mushroom growth, either from branches hanging over the yard or from cloudy days.
What Is Black Mushroom?
The black mushroom, called Lentinula edodes in science lingo, is an Asian mushroom.
The black mushroom is edible with a golden brown or dark reddish-brown cap to a blackish cap that is primarily two to four inches wide.
They are the second most cultivated species of mushroom in the world following the button mushrooms.
They will grow in clusters on hardwood trees, such as;
- white oak
- red oak
- sugar maple
- chestnut
- and beech
The black mushroom’s cap looks like an umbrella, has creamy white gills underneath, is universally firm white flesh, and its stems are generally tough and fibrous.
This meaty textured mushroom has a rich smoky flavor that pairs with many foods.
What Is Causing Black mushrooms In My Yard?
Organic Material
Black mushrooms are a sign of a lot of organic material in your yard.
Organic materials have the perfect amount of nutrients that a black mushroom needs to grow.
The nutrients they eat, specifically are:
- Lignin
- Sugar
- Fats
- Starch
- Nitrogen
- Protein
They get those nutrients from the organic material by producing an enzyme that breaks it down very well.
Black mushrooms can be abundant in your yard when there is some presence of:
- Trees
- Shrubs
- Tree stumps
- Tree roots
- Twigs
- Decaying mulch
- Wood
- Logs
- Sawdust blocks
Black mushrooms are primary decomposers.
They will only grow in freshly cut logs or wood – they will not grow in rotting debris, of which other mushrooms strains have caused to invade the debris. Black mushrooms grow best on downed wood/logs, and especially from oak and maple trees.
These two thick hardwoods provide the black mushrooms mycelium, a stable food source.
The more food sources for the mushrooms mycelium there is, the more they will develop to grow, and the more they will fruit and large they will be — with sources of this type of wood, they will produce mushrooms for three to four years.
Vs. – The oak’s or maple’s barks are thick layered and help hold moisture levels in the log, including the mycelium.
For a black mushroom growing tree log – you would want dry bark and wet inside surfaces.
Dampness In The Yard
mushrooms sprouting in your yard show that you have experienced periods of extra moisture, especially in the shaded areas of your yard.
Extended periods of excessively heavy, soaking rains create an excess moisture environment for black mushrooms to grow. It may also be because you are overwatering your yard, or you may have a leaky irrigation system.
Excess moisture can lead to standing water, or mini-puddles of water or muddy patches.
Your may have muddy sections of your yard for two reasons: 1. a sodden yard, somewhat in a standing water condition, can compact the yard soils, which can adversely impact drainage and air flow, and 2. your yard may be experiencing poor drainage. Poor drainage is conducive to the establishment of black mushrooms.
Besides rain and overwatering, drainage problems can be caused by flat terrain, backed-up gutters, or blocked sidewalks.
Shady Conditions
Mushrooms don’t have chlorophyll. This means mushrooms can’t take nutrients from the sun like green plants can.
They don’t need sunshine to grow.
That is why mushrooms reproduce well in dark spots. They thrive in shady places because darkness helps retain moisture for reproducing spores.
Too much shade can enhance the propagation of black mushrooms in your back yard.
The shaded locations can be the result of too many branches or limbs on nearby trees or shrubbery.
The roots of trees are also ideal for the above reasons; that is the mushroom will be under a tree where sunlight was blocked.
Humid and Warm Temperature
You could expect to spot black mushrooms in the yard when the temperature is at her best for growth, around 55 – 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
But they can grow in temps anywhere from 40 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. High humidity levels (wet air), also contribute to the emergence of black mushrooms.
Why Black Mushrooms Growing In Your Backyard Is Good
I know the black mushrooms growing in your yard look bad, but that does not always matter.
They aren’t going to do any real damage to your lawn, just take away from that perfect look of the grass.
Like all mushrooms, black mushrooms are important to human health and planetary health.
In a nutshell – think about why they grew, then choose to get rid of them or leave them.
Provide Tasty And Healthy Nutrition
If you feel 100% sure what you’re dealing with aka the black mushroom, get ready for a harvest and a great meal.
Black mushrooms are known for their tasty, buttery, meaty, and medicinal flesh.
They’ve been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years for health.
They contain beneficial compounds that:
- boost the immune system
- fight cancer tumors
- are healthy for the heart
Black Mushrooms are a good source of protein and are low in sodium, fats, and calories.
They are high in fiber, B and D vitamins, and some minerals, and have been shown to lower cholesterol.
How To Use Black Mushroom
Ya can fry em up, bake em, roast em, broil em.
Ya can eat black mushrooms plain, but they’re also nice when used in:
- casseroles
- sauces
- stews
- soups
- pastas
- and even stuffing for chicken or seafood
People can eat black mushrooms fresh (shiitake) or dried.
Shiitake doesn’t require soaking, but shiitake is less robust or intense than the dried form.
When you’re ready to use mushrooms, select firm and plump; avoid shriveled, dried, slimy, or bruised.
To clean mushrooms, remove dirt with a damp paper towel or gently scrub it off with a soft brush.
When soaking dried mushrooms before cooking, you must soak them in cold water for a minimum of one hour. If you want to minimize the soaking time, remove the stem first.
Dried mushrooms are ready to cook when the whole caps are soft, and ya can squeeze out all the excess water.
Promote a Healthy Yard
If you have black mushrooms in your yard, you have healthy soil in your yard.
Like all mushrooms, it gets the microbes in the soil attacking nutrients making the soil more productive. As a result, plants in the yard can utilize the nutrient sources for optimum growth.
Without the mushroom, microbes and root systems would not assimilate inorganic matter in the soil which they need for nutrients. Even chemical fertilizers would not help you very much to improve your yard without them present.
Also, black mushrooms help breakdown dead trees and bushes that other wise would never decompose.
Final Thoughts
Black mushrooms are like the produce of fungi which grow under unique environmental conditions.
Their spores can lay dormant in the soil for years while breaking down organic matter or being carried to your yard by wind, birds and insects.
But they come up after the yard is wet with shade and warm humid weather.
While you can remove black mushrooms from your yard, it is suggested that you embrace them because they have health benefits for you also for your yard.
They contain tasty ingredients to go with the many recipes. Plus, they boost microbial soil activity, which contributes to nutrient enrichment in the soil for the plants around your yard.