Have you noticed unusual or strange growths appearing on your lawn lately? It could be Slime Mould, a curious, harmless growth that can show up in wet and cool weather or hot and humid conditions, like we’ve been experiencing recently. So, what should you do if Slime Mould appears on your lawn? Let’s find out…
Scientific name: Myxomycetes
Skip to: What Are Slime Moulds? Why Do Slime Moulds Grow? What Do Slime Moulds Look Like in Lawns? Are There Different Types of Slime Moulds? Do I Need to Remove Slime Moulds?
What Are Slime Moulds?
Despite the name, Slime Moulds aren’t true moulds. They belong to the group Myxomycetes, part of the kingdom Protozoa, which means they are neither plants, animals, nor fungi.
Because slime moulds aren’t true fungi, they cannot cause lawn diseases and are completely harmless to your lawn.
Why Do Slime Moulds Grow?
Slime Moulds usually start to appear after periods of heavy rain, excessive irrigation, or high humidity. They are also more likely to thrive when the lawn contains plenty of organic matter and microorganisms, including decaying plant material, soil fungi and bacteria, or a thick layer of thatch in the turf profile.
What Do Slime Moulds Look Like in Lawns?
Slime Moulds can come in a variety of colours, including grey, white, orange, purple and black.
They can appear in a variety of forms. Some look like a powdery or crusty coating on the grass blades, others resemble thousands of tiny eggs, and some are compared to dog vomit!
Are There Different Types of Slime Moulds?
When it comes to Slime Moulds, there are two main types: cellular and plasmodial. Of these, plasmodial Slime Moulds are much easier to spot in nature.
Some of the most common plasmodial Slime Moulds include:
- Fuligo septica – also called the “dog vomit” Slime Mould, yellow in colour.
- Physarum cinereum – appears as black or grey spots.
- Mucilago crustacea – forms a white or yellowish mass.
Facts:
- There are over 1,200 known species of Plasmodial Slime Moulds.
- Australia has the largest number of known Slime Moulds of any region of the southern hemisphere.
Do I Need to Remove Slime Moulds?
Slime Moulds usually look worse than they actually are! They won’t harm your grass, but they aren’t the most visually appealing thing to have growing in your lawn. To remove them, simply use a broom or garden rake to brush the slime off the lawn.
Once the weather dries out and the ideal growing conditions disappear, Slime Mould will usually clear up on its own.
If damp conditions persist longer than you’d like, aerating the soil and reducing excess irrigation can help keep Slime Mould at bay.
For more lawn care tips and advice, make sure you check out our other lawn care blogs here.
