What is it and is it okay to leave in our yard or keep removing?
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We live in the mountains of Arizona. During our monsoon season, mid July through mid September, we get most of our rain. A few weeks into the monsoon, these gross brainy looking thing come up from the ground. What are they? I remove them and throw them away. Should I be leaving them? Could them be good for the soil? We get mushrooms too that I remove, but I though I heard they can be good for the soil.
Coming up from the ground.
Pulled up {with shovel, eak} very small roots.
15 answers
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ok, your picture is not the 'clearest' but from what I can see my best guess is a type puffball mushroom. While any organic things are good for the soil, mushrooms are de-composers. They make excellent compost themselves and are part of the natural decomposition process. I would imagine they are washed down out of a more forested area as the soil you have in the pictures seems more like gravel. Mushrooms will disperse spores but will only survive where is is hospitable to do so. if left in this area I highly doubt they will become problematic- in a fern or like bed, I would remove them and toss them into the woods, or a compost bin. .
Cm
on Aug 08, 2013
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btw, I grew up in AZ.
Cm
on Aug 08, 2013
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Thanks. They do seem mushroom like. We have our first compost bin this year, so I might add them to the mix. The Tonto National forest is next to our back yard.
Country Design Style-Jeanette
on Aug 08, 2013
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Mushrooms indicate you have organic matter in your soil, and that's a good thing.
Douglas Hunt
on Aug 09, 2013
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In France they pay BIG bucks for Truffles which are a wee bit like your crop here.
KMS Woodworks
on Aug 09, 2013
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So I will let them be until they start to breakdown then put the mushrooms in the compost. Unless someone in France wants to buy them:) Thanks everyone.
Country Design Style-Jeanette
on Aug 09, 2013
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It's a desert truffle rinse it and pat it dry. Try slicking a little to put in on omelet or wrap in cheese cloth and hang to dry. I take the dried ones and pinch between my fingers to crush and sprinkle in pasta sauce as it's cooking.
Stephen White
on Aug 09, 2013
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I had never heard of desert truffles, but googled them for a wealth of info - check this link http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200205/desert.truffles.galore.htm happy eating
Susie
on Aug 10, 2013
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I think it looks like dinosaur poop to me. Organic matter so good for the soil. Hahahaha
Alice Harley-Wosnig
on Aug 10, 2013
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Take one to your local garden center they'll know what it is but please don't eat it til you know for sure what it is
Rosanne Garrett
on Aug 10, 2013
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DO NOT eat them until you know what they are. it may be poisonous,
Celeste S
on Aug 10, 2013
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mushroom_poisoning http://lifehacker.com/5818201/how-to-tell-if-a-mushroom-is-safe-to-eat
Celeste S
on Aug 10, 2013
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It's The UnDead. I'd watch your back.
Pajunka
on Aug 10, 2013
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No worries, I would not eat it! They are soft and spongy. @Rosanne Garrett I will take one to our garden center. They will know. Right now we don't have one in the yard. The one in the picture is long gone. Next rain???
Country Design Style-Jeanette
on Aug 11, 2013
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It is definitely some kind of mushroom.. leave it, it will do no harm!
Cleaning Angels Services
on Aug 12, 2013
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