Fungus can be pesky and spread quickly, invading gardens, lawns, and homes. When fungus gets out of control, it can damage plants, ruin lawns, and even threaten your health indoors. The key to getting rid of fungus and stopping it from coming back is to get to the root of the problem and make conditions less favorable for fungal growth.
What causes fungus to grow?
Fungus needs a few key things to thrive:
- Moisture – Fungus loves damp conditions and spreads easily in wet soil, lawns, mulch beds, or humid indoor spaces.
- Poor air circulation – Stagnant, still air encourages fungal growth. Crowded plantings or cluttered areas prevent airflow.
- Shade – Lower light areas often remain damp, making ideal fungus habitat.
- Damage – Injuries to plants or lawns give fungus entry points to invade.
- Nutrients – Rich organic matter supplies food for fungi to flourish.
- Weakened plants – Plants under stress are more susceptible to fungal diseases.
By modifying these conditions, you can make areas less inviting for fungus.
How to stop fungus in your garden and yard
Outdoors, there are several effective strategies to prevent and control fungus:
Improve air circulation
Allow ample spacing between plants and prune branches to encourage better airflow. This prevents the moist, still conditions fungus needs.
Change watering practices
Water early in the day so plants dry out by nightfall. Avoid excessive watering and standing puddles. Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses rather than sprinklers.
Modify shade
Prune back trees and shrubs to let in more sun. Move shade loving plants instead. More sun exposure encourages drying.
Reduce lawn thickness
Thick lawns hold moisture in their dense mat of leaves and roots. Thinning the lawn allows more airflow to dry things out.
Rake thoroughly
Remove fallen leaves, debris, and garden refuse where fungus may lurk. Dispose of infected plant parts immediately.
Use fans outdoors
Point outdoor fans at problem areas to keep air circulating and disturb the humid boundary layer around plants.
Add spacing between plants
Overcrowding causes prolonged dampness and high humidity. Space plants properly to encourage drying.
Clean up low spots
Correct areas where water collects and stands for too long. Improve drainage or fill in low spots.
Avoid over-fertilizing
Excess nitrogen fertilizer produces soft, fast-growing tissue that is more vulnerable to fungal infections.
Use fungicidal products
Apply registered fungicides according to label instructions to protect plants and eradicate existing fungus.
How to eliminate fungus inside your home
To control fungus growth in damp basements, bathrooms, or other problem areas indoors:
Increase ventilation
Run fans, open windows, and use exhaust fans while cooking and showering to lower humidity levels. Dehumidifiers help in basements.
Discard clutter
Get rid of stacks of newspapers, boxes, and other clutter than can harbor fungus. Follow proper storage recommendations.
Clean and disinfect
Use bleach, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and other disinfectants to kill fungus and mold. Dry surfaces thoroughly after cleaning.
Fix leaks
Repairleaky pipes, windows, and other water sources that allow moisture to develop.
Insulate cold surfaces
Add insulation to discourage condensation on cold pipes, windows, exterior walls and unused areas.
Manage humidity
Maintain indoor relative humidity between 30-50%. Use air conditioning and dehumidifiers to reduce moisture.
Increase sunlight
Open blinds and shades to let more sunlight in. Boost artificial lighting in dark rooms.
Use air filters
HEPA air purifiers and HVAC filters help remove mold spores and improve indoor air quality.
How to treat fungal infections on plants
If fungal disease strikes your garden, prompt treatment can protect other plants from infestation:
Remove infected material
Immediately prune out affected leaves, stems, or branches. Dispose of debris – do not compost it.
Space unaffected plants
Separate healthy plants to avoid spreading fungal inoculum. Destroy badly infected material.
Use fungicides
Apply registered protective fungicides before disease appears or treat promptly at first signs. Cover both upper and lower leaf surfaces.
Apply baking soda
Spray a solution of 1 tablespoon baking soda per 1 quart of water on plants weekly to inhibit fungus. It alters pH levels to discourage fungal growth.
try hydrogen peroxide
A diluted 1:4 solution of hydrogen peroxide applied to leaves, stems, and soil kills fungi on contact. Reapply every few days.
Apply compost tea
The microbes in compost tea help protect plant leaves from infection by out competing harmful fungi. Spray plants and soil.
Improve plant health
Boost plant vigor with regular fertilization and irrigation. Healthy plants can better withstand and outgrow fungal diseases.
Prune for airflow
Remove congested branches and dense growth to allow good air movement, light, and drying conditions.
How to get rid of fungus in your lawn
Fungal diseases like brown patch, dollar spot, or powdery mildew can damage lawns. Several strategies help control fungi in turf grass:
Mow properly
Never cut more than one-third of the grass blade height. Taller grass encourages deeper roots and health.
Water infrequently, but deeply
Allow the lawn to dry between watering. Avoid frequent, light watering that keeps grass wet.
Fertilize appropriately
Test soil to determine the proper fertilizer type and application rate specific to your lawn’s needs.
Improve air flow
Remove crowding shrubs and relocate trees to open up the landscape. Rake debris that blocks light and air.
Reduce thatch buildup
Thatch is slow to dry after rain or irrigation. Dethatch in early fall using a rake or mechanical dethatcher.
Repair bare patches
Reseed thin, damaged areas to fill in bare soil. Fungi spread more easily across exposed soil.
Apply fungicides
Treat affected areas with appropriate fungicides labeled for lawn use. Follow all label instructions carefully. Reapply as directed.
Boost turf health
Relieve soil compaction, aerate, top dress, and overseed to encourage lush, vigorous grass that better resists fungal disease.
What’s the best way to get rid of fungus permanently?
Completely eliminating fungus long-term requires an integrated approach:
- Remove and destroy infected plant material.
- Disinfect soil using solarization or a dilute bleach solution where fungi have appeared.
- Space plants properly and improve air circulation.
- Water early, deeply, and infrequently. Allow soil to dry between waterings.
- Fertilize appropriately – avoid excess nitrogen.
- Prune woody plants for better air and light penetration.
- Use registered fungicidal products preventively and at the first sign of disease.
- For edibles, select resistant varieties bred to deter fungal diseases.
- Rotate between plant families in the garden to disrupt disease cycles in the soil.
- Keep indoor humidity between 30-50% and promptly fix leaks or moisture sources.
- Discard clutter and improve cleanliness to eliminate damp micro-habitats indoors.
Consistency and vigilance are key. It often takes repeated efforts to fully disrupt the environmental conditions that allow fungi to thrive. But with a multi-pronged approach, you can gain the upper hand and keep fungus problems in check long-term.
Conclusion
Fungus can be difficult to control, but it’s possible with persistence and by using several integrated management methods together. The key is modifying the environment to become less hospitable to fungal growth. Indoors, reduce moisture and humidity while improving cleanliness and air flow. Outdoors, improve drainage, air circulation, and light while managing irrigation and fertilization carefully. Keep a close watch for early signs of disease and be prepared to treat promptly and thoroughly. With concerted, repeated efforts focused on disrupting the fungus lifecycle, you can keep ahead of fungal invasions and protect your plants, lawn, and home. Consistency and dedication to best practices will provide effective, lasting fungus control over time.