Horticulture Hotline 05/30/23
By Bill Lamson-Scribner
Many people are coming in to Possum’s with pictures and texting me pictures of a black film over the leaf blades of grass. What you see is the fruiting body of a fungus that is decomposing thatch and other organic matter in the soil. When the fungus tries to reproduce, it sends spores up the leaf blade of the grass where it is higher up in the air, so the wind will catch a spore more easily. With the spore up in the air, it will travel further also. This fungus is called slime mold. Very nasty looking, but beneficial since it is helping to control thatch.
Slime mold does not hurt the grass, except for the shading of the sun from the leaf surface where photosynthesis takes place. This shading is usually not an issue because these spores disappear very quickly. The weather was perfect for this mold to want to reproduce. Overcast, rainy and humid days are ideal conditions for this fungus.
Since slime mold’s main purpose is to decompose organic matter in the soil and it really does not damage the grass, I have never recommended any chemical control for slime molds. I do suggest you spray it off the leaf blades of your grass with a hose if you can’t stand it. In a commercial setting or golf course (read and follow product label), you could use Protect DF.
All grasses are a susceptible host, but remember the spores are just using the grass like a ladder for a little elevation. Slime mold is helping to break down thatch and other organic matter, which is a good thing. I would leave it alone and let mother nature lend me a hand in controlling thatch.
With the still cool weather some grass is still slowly coming out of dormancy. The other day it was in the 50’s during the daytime – crazy! The recent rain (of course on Saturday – I was still glad to see it) and the cool nights might make the conditions right for brown patch / large patch disease. Japanese beetles have attacked some roses and crepe myrtles in the area. Fire ants have popped up to the surface with the rain. Gardenias and Magnolias have been smelling good. Crepe Myrtles are showing some color.
Always read, understand, and follow product label. The product label is a Federal Law.