NJ Lawns Community

Hey everyone, really hoping someone can help me here. I'm in Paramus (clay soil like everyone deals with here) and last weekend I decided to dethatch and rake out my front yard - figured with the forsythia buds popping out it was finally the right time. Well now I've got mushrooms popping up everywhere!! Like dozens of them in patches all over. I'm using Pennington Tall Fescue blend and have been watering faithfully. Is this normal?? Did I mess something up by dethatching? My wife thinks I brought something home on the rake lol. Should I be worried about fungus spreading to my grass?? I've only had this lawn in for about 18 months after we moved from Fair Lawn.

Don't panic! This is super common actually. I've seen this exact same thing happen to neighbors in Ridgewood and Glen Rock. When you dethatch, you're exposing all that dead organic matter that was sitting underneath - thatch, old roots, etc. That stuff is basically a feast for mushroom fungi. The mushrooms aren't hurting your grass - actually they're doing you a favor by breaking down all that dead material. Once it decomposes, your soil biology improves. I'd almost consider it a sign that your soil is actually healthy and active. My recommendation: just let them do their thing, mow over them or pull them if they bother you, and within a few weeks they'll disappear on their own. Might want to check your drainage though - clay + poor drainage = happy mushrooms.

Gonna respectfully disagree with GreenThumb here a bit. While it's true mushrooms can be natural, seeing a huge outbreak after dethatching usually points to excess moisture retention in clay soil. This time of year with those forsythia buds and still cool nights, the ground isn't drying out fast. Are you watering too much? I'd cut back to every other day max. Also - what kind of Pennington seed did you get exactly? Some of their mixes have more annual rye which breaks down faster and can cause this. Go pick up a soil test kit from Lowe's in Paramus or Barnes in Englewood if you want to be sure - $15 well spent. Also don't forget to sharp your mower blade if you haven't yet - ragged cuts = stressed grass = more problems.

MowerMike is onto something. I service irrigation systems across Bergen county and the number one issue I see with mushroom problems in clay soil clients is overwatering AND compacted soil that won't drain. Since you're in Paramus you know our clay is like concrete underneath. When you dethatched, you probably opened up some channels but if you're running sprinklers daily you're creating perfect fungus paradise. Run your system 20 minutes MAX per zone in the early morning, ideally between 5-7am. Clay soil holds moisture forever - you might only need twice a week right now with the spring weather. Get a soil probe or even just a screwdriver to poke around - if it goes in easy, your soil is moist enough. Also, mushrooms LOVE shade. Any trees or areas not getting full sun? That could be compounding it.

Alright thanks everybody - feeling better already lol. I was definitely watering every day after seeding, sounds like I need to back off. Yes we have a big oak tree on the east side of the yard that casts some afternoon shade. So just to clarify - I shouldn't try to kill the mushrooms with anything? My neighbor in Hackensack recommended I apply some fungicide granules but I'm hesitant now after reading everyone's responses. Also when should I first mow? It's been about 10 days since I seeded and I'm seeing some green fuzz come in but definitely not 3 inches yet.

DO NOT waste money on fungicide! That's overkill and you'll probably hurt your new grass seedlings. Let nature do its thing - those mushrooms are temporary houseguests. For mowing - wait until your grass is at least 3-3.5 inches tall and the soil is dry enough that you don't leave footprints. With the fescue you planted (which is what most people in this area should be using honestly - far better for our climate than KBG which dies in our summers), expect 4-6 weeks from seeding before first mow. Take a photo now so you can compare later - I always find it helps to see how far you've come. And honestly? Welcome to the club - Paramus clay will test your patience more than once lol. We're all learning every season.

+1 on waiting to mow. One more tip - when you do mow for the first time, keep your blade height at the highest setting (like 3.5-4 inches). Tall fescue thrives when you don't scalp it. Those roots need the leaf surface to feed. Also pro tip from experience: after your first couple mows, consider renting a core aerator from the Paramus rental place on Route 17. Aerating clay soil once a year does WONDERS for compaction and drainage issues. My clients who do this consistently have way fewer mushroom/fungus problems overall. We're heading into the perfect aeration window now through late April - hit me up if you want suggestions on rental equipment.