Knowledgebase

What is this white stuff #877776

Asked July 18, 2024, 12:04 PM EDT

This morning (the day after a rain) we spotted some white stuff covering our mulch. The mulch was applied in late May and was obtained from the Howard County landfill. What do you think it is?

Howard County Maryland

Expert Response

This looks like a slime mold, and they are fairly common organisms but not harmful to live plants. Dozens of slime mold species occur in Maryland, and as such they can manifest in several forms and colors. They consume other microbes, and will usually fade away and disappear almost as suddenly as they appeared. No intervention is needed.

Miri
Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 18, 2024, 4:19 PM EDT

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