From May through October, we field calls from our customers wondering what the heck that stuff is growing in their mulch! Slime mold is easy to recognize once you know its name. It’s more common names, and rather accurate, are Dog Vomit slime mold or Scrambled Egg slime mold if you prefer. Not kidding. So, will it hurt your plants? Can you prevent it from coming back?
Stage One
Slime mold is harmless. It changes form and eventually goes away.
Starting as a bright yellow foamy blob, this particular slime mold, Fuligo septica, moves across your mulch, crawling over anything in search of food (bacteria and other microorganisms).
Starting to dry up and crust over
Scientists have discovered that it can move as much as two or more feet a day. It poses no threat to your landscape. Once it reaches its reproductive phase, it begins to dry out and develop mushroom-like fruiting bodies which burst, spreading more spores and disappear.
The black mass inside are the fruiting bodies or spores.
Slime Mold usually disappears within 48 hours. You can almost see it move!
So, you do not have to do anything. However, if you are annoyed by its appearance and want to ensure it does not reach the stage where additional spores are spread via the wind, you can scoop it up and dispose of it or use a garden rake to break it up.
Since this mold thrives in moist conditions, adjusting your irrigation or periodically “fluffing” or “aerating” your mulch with a garden rake will help alleviate the conditions which cause it to develop.
That’s really putting out the welcome mat! That whitish looking stuff is slime mold
The experts at Gertens are always available to answer your questions!