How Do I Get Rid of Fungus in My Mulch? Try Out These 6 Simple and Effective Tricks!
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What causes fungus on mulch? Which are the best ways to get rid of it, according to experts?
How to Get Rid of Fungus Growing in Mulch Effectively and Naturally?
Some of the main reasons for fungus growing in mulch are the following – lack of sunlight, contaminated organic fertilizers, and too much moisture. Fortunately, there are simple methods that can help you to remove the fungus, without damaging the plants and flowers!
Use Baking Soda
You could either sprinkle some baking soda solution over the mulch or just make a spray. The solution consists of two-three teaspoons of baking soda and a gallon of water. Keep in mind that this method will start working in a few days after implementing it.
Eliminate Fungus With Your Hand
To prevent accidentally spreading the spores in your yard, remove the most visible parts of the fungus and throw them immediately. Next, get rid of the top mulch layer and add a fresh one. Make sure that you have goggles and a mask available.
Read also: What is the best mulch for tomatoes?
How to Get Rid of Fungus in Mulch? Apply Some Bleach
Since bleach is a dangerous solution for your plants, you should only use it when one part of bleach is mixed with nine parts of water. In this way, you won’t risk doing more harm than good. After removing the fungus, replace the top mulch layer with a new one.
Adjust pH Level of Mulch
Since fungus does thrive in an acidic mulch that provides a moist environment, it is wise to increase the pH level of the mulch. In order to prevent causing damage to your plants, test the waters by starting out with a small amount of liquid lime or wood ash.
Use Vinegar Spray
While the acetic acid, which is the main component in vinegar, fights fungi, it can also hurt your plants. Due to this reason, dissolve one part of apple cider vinegar into four parts of water and spray over the particular area. If it’s needed, repeat the process yet avoid using this method while it’s raining.
Cornmeal Mixture Fights Fungus
Thanks to the antifungal properties that cornmeal has, it can successfully and effectively eliminate fungus found in mulch. So, what do you need to do? Just mix a gallon of water with a cup of cornmeal and pour the solution over the mulch area.
Read also: How to clean your lawn naturally?
Non-Organic Solution – Fungicides
Lastly, let’s discuss one non-organic, full-of-chemicals solution that works well, though. Fungicides can be a good choice only when you want to tackle the problem as fast as possible. Yet, we strongly advise using the above-mentioned tricks as they are safer and won’t lead to contaminated soil.