Fungus will disappear from lawns if one thing is added to soil

They are a common sight in gardens in October but if you don't want fungus, toadstools or mushrooms to spread there is something you can do easily and cheaply to get rid of them and to stop them coming back.

As heavy rain and colder temperatures bring moisture to lawns and to raised beds, more and more gardeners have spotted fungus popping up and spreading. Fungi thrive in wet weather and when autumn conditions arrive, mushrooms start to pop up in lawns and in soil.

While many mushrooms are harmless additions to a garden's biodiversity, a lot of fungus can be toxic to pets or harmful to other things growing in your outdoor space.

If you want to get rid of mushrooms in your lawn or soil, it's surprisingly easy with one garden item and doesn't require any expensive chemicals or fungicides.

The first thing to do is pick out any mushrooms by hand, and then use one garden implement - a broom - to pull away clusters of smaller mushrooms.

Then to prevent them coming back, you need to keep your lawn clean, dry and 'airier', by removing thatch and dead matter and cutting the grass shorter.

Gardeners World adds: "Discourage mushrooms from developing in future by making the lawn environment cleaner, drier, and airier, all of which are less welcoming to fungi. Rake up fallen twigs and leaves in autumn and cut the lawn regularly as short grass dries much faster than if left long. Scarify (rake) to remove the layer of dead grass and moss that builds up on the surface of a lawn."

This is backed up by plant retail website Patch which says there's one thing you can add to the soil to prevent them returning too.

It says scattering a layer of gravel around plants can help prevent mushrooms growing, as it blocks out their light, while cinnamon, a natural fungicide, can also prevent mushrooms and fungus if sprinkled on the surface of the soil.

It explains: "There's no way to guarantee it, as eliminating spores is near impossible. The best way to prevent them returning is by correctly watering your plants. The wetter the soil, the better the conditions for mushrooms.

"Check soil regularly. Removing mushrooms before they're big enough to produce spores will help slow the spread.

"Putting fine gravel on the surface of the soil can prevent fungus taking hold.

"Some people also swear by cinnamon, a natural fungicide, sprinkled on the soil. If it doesn't work at least it will smell nice."