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Yard Fungus #876845
Asked July 11, 2024, 2:48 PM EDT
Crow Wing County Minnesota
Expert Response
Your first picture is a Bracket polypores fungi. They are a family of parasitic fungi, typically colonizing woody plants, digesting the moist wood and causing rot. Because of this, they are sometimes also called brown-rot fungi. Bracket polypores take their name from the way they grow, forming shelf-like growths on their host. They are poisonous. Use gloves and get rid of it or if there are too many, use a fungicide following instructions.
Picture 2 was too small to identify correctly. You can assume it also can be poisonous.
The third picture is a member of the clavulinaceae family of fungi. They are very diverse. Some species look like corals, but others grow as crusts or in patches. They even feed differently, with some species feeding and supporting plant roots, others feeding on wood decay, and still others forming symbiotic lichens with algae and bacteria. These slaw could potentially be poisonous if eaten.
Because of all of the rain, lots of fungi are thriving this year. if you have that many, I would consider keeping your pets in and spraying your yard with a fungicide following label instructions. You other option would be to have a lawn company come in and treat your yard.
I do believe that once the weather dries out, these fungi will disappear.
It’s been a really strange spring/summer so far.