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Stinkhorns: What Is This Fungus Among Us?
Stinkhorns: What Is This Fungus Among Us?
Earlier this summer, I spoke about slime molds growing in the mulch of landscape beds. The one that most people see is called Dog Vomit slime mold since the name describes the appearance of the slime mold—slimy, yellowish and gelatinous. Another type of fungal growth is showing up in a number of mulch beds right now – stinkhorns.
Stinkhorns are common in the US and usually show up in the late summer and early fall. They can form in lawns or in mulch beds. Stinkhorns get their name from the spore-rich slime that it produces at the tip, which attract flies and other insects. These insects feed on the slime and spread the spores that they pick up to other parts of the lawn and landscape.
How Long Do Stinkhorns Last?
Stinkhorns are short-lived organisms and last only about a day before shriveling up and dying. This particular stinkhorn grows from a whitish “egg” that forms in the mulch or organic matter. Even though they only live for a short time, they can produce a foul swelling odor to attract insects to it.
The type that is pictured here is often called a Dog Stinkhorn. Stinkhorns are saprophytes, the organisms that are responsible for composting or breaking down organic material. There are saprophytes that break down the fallen oak tree in the forest and there are saprophytes that breakdown the dead grass blades in your lawn. They are very beneficial organisms and are an integral part of the soil food web.
How Do I Control Stinkhorns?
There is really nothing you can do to control the growth of the stinkhorns in your mulch. They are truly beneficial organisms and help to provide food to other microorganisms that live in the soil, which in turn helps improve the health of your landscape plants. Luckily, they only live for a day, so the odor is not a long-lasting problem.
Spring-Green can help you control unwanted guests in your lawns and gardens—from ticks and mosquitoes to moss and weeds, Get in touch with your local Spring-Green for a free diagnosis and estimate.