Fungus growing on mulch

[linky]

I have noticed that some of my mulch installation have a dark grey or bright orange fungus growning. Some of the beds are well watered and some recieve very little water. All of the mulch that i use seems to be a quality product-is it because it was not composted correctly? Thanks for any info and happy 4th.

[Jusmowin]

Ive noticed it too on some of my mulch jobs also. I just removed it with a shovel and replaced it with new mulch in that area and it never came back. I dont know what caused it maybe its just a Virginia thing, who knows???

[LoneStarLawn]

IMO I would question the quality. Or check the plants to see if they are the ones carrying the fungus...

[Island Lawn]

Slime mold?
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/TRA/PLANTS/slime.html

[linky]

Island Lawn,
Thats it. Thanks for the info.

[Island Lawn]

Just another useful tidbit I picked up here at Lawnsite.
I think we can thank Kirby'slawn for that one.

[GroundKprs]

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16409

You are not alone! :D

[KirbysLawn]

Island Lawn Just another useful tidbit I picked up here at Lawnsite. I think we can thank Kirby'slawn for that one.

Not me, can't take credit, Jim gave us that info in the above linked thread.

[Island Lawn]

Sorry about the misquote.:eek:

[JimsLandscaping]

I'm from Illinois and i have the same problem but mine isn't bright orange but it only seems to grow when the mulch is put down heavy maby cause it is hotter under a thickerl ayer of mulch than when u put it down thin it doesn't seem like the fungus grows but u got me confused to?

[earthandturf]

I'm in N.E. Illinois and several of my mulch jobs have slime mold. It loks bad when it dries and gets powdery. I even have some bright orange blobs in my own garden.

[mattingly]

There are two possible options for what it could be. Dog vomit fungus or shotgun fungus. The latter is identified by the release of spores into the air that looks like a shotgun fire. Noticeable on vinyl sided buildings. The more likely alternative is dog vomit fungus. This is caused generally by putting down piss poor mulch. ie mulch that has high wood content in it as opposed to bark content. Wood is much more difficult to breakdown and saps a lot of nitrogen out of the soil. The conditions in this mulch are anearobic, no oxygen, and the fungus thrives in this condition. Turning the mulch often times helps or removing it and putting down good stuff. What is good stuff? Well it shouldn't have a strong odor to it. Why? Becuase good mulch is finely composted, turned often, and doesn't have pallets and wood content chopped up in it.