Cleveland Heights tree mulch company suggestions: Have you ever noticed a white, cobweb-like substance on your mulch around your property? It looks quite unattractive, but you are not the only one as it is a common problem. Slime mold, also known as “scrambled egg fungus” or even “dog vomit fungus” will sometimes make an appearance in your yard or mulch.

Slime mold appears with the combination of warm weather, shady spots from trees, and spring rain. As you can guess according to all of it’s nicknames, it looks exactly like it sounds. At first it will look like a bright yellow foam that may cover a few inches up to a foot of yard space. Overtime, as it dries it turns brown and finally changes into an ugly, sticky, powdery, white mess.

Now that we have identified the gross substance on your mulch, is it harmful to my trees and plants? How do I get rid of it?

While it may look really ugly, it actually isn’t harmful to your plants or trees in the slightest. It doesn’t indicate any sort of bigger problem, nor does it feed or spread on your landscaping. As noted before, it is the result of shade, moisture, and warm weather. Unless you prefer to remove it for aesthetic purposes, it is ok to leave it as it will dissolve into the soil on its own after a maximum of three weeks. If you do want to remove it, just take a shovel to the moldy areas and throw it away.

Due to the fact that slime mold and other mulch mold development processes are non-intrusive and natural processes, there is no specific treatment. The best thing you can do to prevent more slime mold from growing near your trees or on your mulch though is to follow good watering care. Reduce the amount of moisture in your garden by not watering shady areas of your yard if there has already been rainfall or invest in a deep root watering system so that your trees and other plants get the perfect amount of water when needed.

Have more questions about your landscaping, tree removal, or tree trimming? VanCuren knows trees and is experienced in serving the Cleveland Heights area. Give us a call to talk to one of our experts today!