Kill a stink fungus

Content

To step
Method 1 of 3: Digging out a stink fungus
Method 2 of 3: Kill a stink fungus with bleach or lime
Method 3 of 3: Identify a stink fungus
Tips
Warnings
Necessities

The stink fungus is a mushroom that occurs in the Netherlands, among other places. There are several types of stink fungi that belong to the Phallaceae and Clathraceae families. The most common type is a thin, pale mushroom with a bulbous head. If you have stink fungi in your yard, you can kill them by digging them out, or by using bleach or lime. Before attempting to kill the mushrooms, however, consider whether it would be wiser and easier to leave the stink mushrooms alone. Stink fungi are not poisonous and are nearly impossible to kill. They can come back even after using very aggressive methods to kill them. Stink fungi can be good for the soil in your garden, and usually only last a few days.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Digging out a stink fungus

Dig out the stink fungus by the roots. Don't just cut away the portion of the mushroom that is above the ground. You will have to dig out the stink fungus until you have removed the egg-shaped bottom. Also dig out the round, white, egg-shaped structures that are nearby, as these will soon develop into new stink fungi. Put the smelly material you removed in a plastic bag.
- If you don't want your hands to get dirty and smelly from the stink fungus, put on cheap disposable latex gloves. After killing the stink fungus, put them in a plastic bag that you seal airtight and throw away immediately.
Remove the soil around the stink fungus. There may be spores and other undeveloped fungi in the soil surrounding the removed stink fungus, so dig the top layer of soil within six inches of the area where you removed the stink fungus. If the stink fungus did not grow in soil but another material such as bark, mulch or other loose rotting plant debris, remove this material with a shovel.
- Put the excavated earth and other materials together with the stink fungus in a plastic bag. Then close the bag tightly.
Place the bag in the waste container for emptying. Do not dispose of the discarded bag with garden waste, as if the bag breaks or opens, spores may escape and allow new mushrooms to grow.
- If new mushrooms grow in your garden after following these steps, you may need to use a chemical.
Spray the area with an environmentally friendly fungicide. This way you can be sure that the mushroom and the spores in the ground around it are really dead. After applying the fungicidal spray according to the directions on the package, let the area dry out by letting the sun shine on it. The spray should also minimize the return of mushrooms.
- You should be able to find a safe, non-toxic fungicide at a garden center or hardware store.

Method 2 of 3: Kill a stink fungus with bleach or lime

Mix boiling water and bleach. Start this method in the kitchen by boiling water in a large saucepan on the stove. Then pour the bleach into the garden or garage. Add about the same amount of bleach that you used water (for example, 1 liter of each) so that you have a mixture that is 50% bleach and 50% water.
- When working with bleach, make sure to wear clothes that you don't mind screwing up, as bleach removes the dyes from almost any fabric it ends up on. Also, remember to protect your eyes with safety goggles so that the bleach doesn't splash in your eyes.
- Know that killing mushrooms with bleach or lime will likely damage other plants in the area and die. The chemicals will also damage the earth.
Pour the mixture onto the stink fungus. Do this while the water is still hot. Do not wait for the mixture to cool. The combination of boiling water and powerful bleach should be strong enough to kill all the stink fungi and prevent new mushrooms from growing in the soil.
- If you choose to dig out the stink fungi first and then use bleach, simply pour the bleach mixture over the entire area of your yard where you dug the stink fungi.
Sprinkle lime over the stink fungi and the soil around them. If you have not been able to get rid of the stink fungi, then lime will make the soil unsuitable for the mushrooms. Use a shovel or trowel and spread the lime over the area of soil where stink fungi grew. Lime is a caustic substance, so be careful when using lime.
- You should be able to buy lime at a hardware store or garden center near you.
- Read the directions on the packaging before spreading lime on the soil. You may have to moisten the soil before you can use lime.

Method 3 of 3: Identify a stink fungus

Smell the mushroom. If it is a stink fungus, this probably won't take much effort. Stink fungi are known to be very unpleasant, and they smell of feces and dead, decomposing animal bodies.
- Stink fungi may smell foul, but they are not poisonous to humans and animals. They will not harm your animals and other plants in the environment.
- Stink fungi use their unpleasant odor to attract flies. Flies land on the mushroom, with the spores sticking to their legs and bodies. They spread the spores where they fly. So if you see a large number of flies near a mushroom, it could be a stink fungus.
Keep an eye out for moist soil that is covered with mulch. If you suspect that you are dealing with a stink fungus, see if the area where the mushroom grows resembles the type of terrain that stink fungi prefer. Stink fungi prefer moist areas and areas where the soil is covered with mulch, but they can grow in many types of places. Stink fungi can grow on dead and dying tree stumps just like other mushrooms.
- Different types of stink fungi are found throughout Europe. Some varieties prefer very warm regions.
Examine the mushroom. The large stink fungus (Phallus impudicus) is most common in our country and has a pale white stalk and is phallic in shape. The mushroom stem is usually 10-25 inches long, and the tuberous top 3-6 inches long. The mushroom cap is slimy and olive green in color, with a rough texture. The porous hollow stem has a spongy texture.
- At the end of a stink fungus's brown hat is a white ring with an opening.
Recognize other types of stink fungi. Seven types of stink fungi occur in the Netherlands, including the large stink fungus, the dune stink fungus and the pink stink fungus. Most have a thin stem with a bulbous, slimy head containing the spores. Stink fungi can be of different colors, and some stink fungi are pink or red in color. There may also be differences in the shape and size of the mushrooms. Most stink fungi are between 2 and 6 inches tall, but some species can grow up to 6 inches in size.

Tips

Before pouring lime or bleach onto the soil, rake away all mulch, bark, pine needles, and other garden debris from the area. Pour the bleach or lime onto the soil itself.

Warnings

Be careful not to burn yourself if you decide to kill the stink fungus with a mixture of boiling water and bleach.
If you have small children or who live in your area, keep them away from the water and bleach mixture.