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My Mulch Has a Yellow Fungus on Top

Many types of fungus can flourish in a mulched flowerbed. Some are harmful to the mulch, plants or bushes while others may just be unsightly. A slime mold may be responsible for the yellow fungus appearing on your mulch. They are not a true fungus, but rather a protist, or unicellular microorganism, and are not harmful to people, plants or animals.

  1. Identification

    • Slime molds, a fungus-like organism, start out as a yellow, cream or orange mass. They appear as a shiny, frothy glob and are sometimes mistaken for dog vomit.

    Varieties

    • Fuligo septica, a yellow slime mold, is one variety of 700 different slime molds and can grow up to 2 feet in diameter, occasionally climbing a nearby plant or a wall, notes Iowa State University Extension.

    Life Cycle

    • Slime molds feed on organic debris, bacteria, fungi and tend to thrive in damp, rotting mulch. Once mature, the mold will dry out and drop spores into the surrounding area, waiting for the right conditions to help them grow again the following year.

    Prevention

    • The best method of prevention is to dry out the area where the slime is appearing. Spores will not germinate in a dry location.

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