Today's landscape lesson: Artillery fungus
Everyday you learn something new. Today I learned about artillery fungus, and I'll share with you the information behind the difficult to combat and remove Artillery fungus.
Artillery fungus is the result of spores which develop in the beds of moist, organic mulch products which many homeowners use for myriad purposes in their landscaping pursuits.
Artillery fungus is aptly named, as when the fungus releases it's spores, it ejects them like a cannon, often ending up on the side of your house, car, etc. The typical environment for the fungus to develop is in lower lighted areas, such as the North side of your home.
Herein lies the problem with Artillery fungus, it's extremely difficult, it not impossible to remove without leaving a stain. Pressure-washing may remove some residue, however completely removing the spores requires a stiff bristle brush, or steel wool. The resulting effort will still likely leave a stain.
The best way to prevent Artillery fungus? Preventing high moisture environments with good drainage will mitigate the situation, not eliminate it. There are synthetic mulch products on the market these days; recycled tires, plastics, etc. -the downside is that they are prone to wind erosion, ending up in areas you would otherwise prefer to not have it. Additionally, there are many stone products that are available, however at considerable upfront cost to the homeowner...
So there you have it, my brief explanation into Artillery fungus. Unfortunately my home suffers from it (on the Northerly exposure) If you have similar experiences, and care to share your best efforts to remove the spores, please feel free to share your information with us.
Enjoy your day...
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