With rain, expect effects on gardening efforts

By BILL SNYDER

Mahoning Master Gardener Volunteer

With all the rain we have endured in the last month, we can expect certain effects on our 2015 gardening efforts.

The most distressing will be the threat of fungal diseases in both our vegetable and ornamental gardens.

Special precautions will be necessary to avoid the conditions that promote these diseases.

On the lighter side, fungi and similar organisms are necessary for normal decomposition of soil organic materials.

Under proper conditions (like this year), these organisms will produce interesting fruiting bodies in order to reproduce.

Fortunately, these structures are usually not harmful and can be entertaining.

Dog-vomit slime mold

Expect a bumper crop of slime molds in your wood-mulched landscape beds this season. Probably the most noticeable is the so-called dog-vomit or scrambled-egg slime mold, Fuligo septica.

The brightly colored mass, usually bright yellow, accounts for the colorful names associated with this reproductive form of the slime mold. The color quickly fades to orange and finally to a dull brown.

Controls are usually not very effective and are really unnecessary, because they are normally totally harmless to both plant and animal life.

Mushrooms

A wide variety of mushrooms will be produced this season. These mushrooms or toadstools are the fruiting bodies of various fungi found in our area. A good rule of thumb is to consider all poisonous for use as food, until a reliable identification is available.

As far as your choices for control, you can remove them, you can ignore them or you can enjoy their natural beauty.

Bird’s-nest fungus

These fungi produce a cup-shaped fruiting body filled with masses of spores that look like tiny eggs. Once again, these organisms are harmless but can be simply raked over to prevent spreading.