Dog Vomit Mulch

This is a wonderful time of year as the days are pleasantly warm and the trees, bushes and grass are still in good shape.

But, there are always issues and one of them is a blight on the garden. Here is another tip from DC Extension Agent Sandy Farber:

DOG VOMIT or dog barf fungus has once again been crawling its way across landscapes. This somewhat grotesque, slimy barf-colored growth is actually not the fungus that its name indicates. It is a slime mold (Fuligo septica) that actually crawls along the surface of the mulch digesting organic matter. It can be yellow, orange, or pink in color. As it reaches maturity, the colony stops moving and firms up forming a mound that looks just like its namesake. This pile-o-puke eventually dries down and releases brownish clouds of spores when disturbed.

The most effective time to control this problem is when the mulch is being put down. At that time, the fresh mulch is easily colonized by slime mold. Watering in new mulch increases the moisture level in the relatively dry organic matter. This allows bacteria and other competitors to get established prior to the arrival of slime molds. This fierce competition for organic matter reduces the successful development of the dog barf later in the season. If the slime mold is currently in the landscape, the gelatinous or dry stages of the slime mold can be lifted off of the mulch and disposed of. It is, however, an amazing organism that you can simply enjoy for what it is.

So, now you know....