Q: What kind of mushroom is this (see photo)? Can I eat it? Actually, too many are popping up and I was wondering if there was something I could apply to the soil to stop them.
A: I don't ID mushrooms for consumption due to the potential for human death. Rather, first start with Missouri Department of Conservation and its resource "Field Guide for Mushrooms," which is available online (try a Google search, "Missouri Department of Conservation mushrooms"). Consider how the mushroom looks and where it is occurring, and what time of the year it is occurring. To make positive identification, you'll need to understand the gill structure. For Jefferson City, the Runge Nature Center should be able to assist with some resources but may be reluctant to say "go ahead and eat it."
On preventing mushrooms, there is absolutely no effective way to spray something on the soil or decaying wood to "stop" mushrooms from happening. Properties of the soil or rotting wood will deactivate any fungicide or similar product far before it would penetrate deep enough into the soil or wood to stunt or kill the growth of the mycelium. The "mushroom" is just the fruiting body of the mycelium. The best recourse is to pick and dispose of them as soon as they occur. Another option is to admire them and let them just fall apart/decay on their own.
Q: I am trying to kill out some Bermuda grass that grows into my fescue lawn and am having a tough time spraying it with Round-up, then reseeding, digging it out when I can. The roots of it seem to go all over. Is there an easier way?
A: Possibly there is, for a selective herbicide is labeled to "kill" some warm season grasses like Bermuda, but not harm tall turf type fescue. It is called Fusilade II and the "II" or 2, is extremely important, because the straight Fusilade is an old grass killer. You will probably have to order this online, as it is quite specialized. It was going for about $80 a quart, which should last a very long time and if it works well, save you a LOT of time. You would likely have to apply it a couple of times each fall and spring. It is important to use it on the Bermuda when it is green and not use it when overly hot and dry. So applying now (two times about three weeks apart) and again in May would be ideal.
What may be in your lawn could be another warm season grass called Nimblewill, as gardeners frequently mistake it as Bermuda. Nimblewill will commonly occur in the shade whereas Bermuda rarely does; one way to help distinguish the two. Unfortunately, it is not controlled by Fusilade II, but by another product called Tenacity. And this product doesn't control Bermuda grass well. One applies it similarly and it costs about the same and will likely need to be purchased online. For more information on Nimblewill, see Missouri Botanical Garden (search their name and Nimblewill).
Q: It has just been so dry, I pretty much gave up on my vegetable garden. Should I leave it fallow? I heard this can be good for the soil, to let it rest and restore.
A: This is a practice in some areas out west, but for Missouri, it isn't considered beneficial. If the ground is left fairly bare (fallow) it can get crusting and really decrease water infiltration for the soils. A cover crop would help with water capture and help with water infiltration. After a drought the soil microbes are severely decreased/stressed. So, planting a cover crop will help them recover their population. If you don't want to grow anything, at least put down a layer of mulch, such as tree leaves which should be plentiful quite soon.
Q: I am new to Mid-Mo. Please recommend types of spring bulbs to be planted now and where I can locate them. I have a small yard but it would be nice to see color come spring.
A: Daffodils, narcissus, hyacinths, and crocus all do well here. Tulips often don't come back after one year and sometimes, they may not come up if the winter is too wet, generally due to heavy clay soil. Most retailers/garden centers carry bulbs now. Call around if you want to make certain. Generally, the independent retailers have more knowledgeable staff. For good information, check out this section about spring flowering bulbs: extension2.missouri.edu/mg9 in the section about spring flowering bulbs.
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