How To Get Rid Of Artillery Fungus

There is no recommended artillery fungus treatment. If the spores are fresh, sometimes soap and water with a scrub brush will remove a bit of the fungus. You can power wash them off of vinyl siding but such methods can be damaging to cars and wood siding.

How do you get rid of artillery fungus in mulch?

Artillery fungus won’t grow in a dry environment. If you have a small yard, stirring up the mulch regularly to keep it dry is another option. If you have an ongoing problem with artillery fungus, it is best to remove all of the affected mulch and start from scratch with new, more resistant mulch.

Does vinegar kill artillery fungus?

Yes, vinegar has been offered as a way to kill artillery fungus. However, if the artillery fungus is in the mulch then some people believe that.

What causes artillery fungus?

Artillery fungus is a wood-decaying fungus that likes to live in landscape mulch. In its natural habitat, artillery fungi shoot spores towards sunlight. At your home, the fungus may behave differently. Lack of direct sunlight will cause the fungi to shoot spores at reflective surfaces, like white siding or cars.

Does artillery fungus go away?

How to Get Rid of Artillery Fungus. There is no recommended artillery fungus treatment. If the spores are fresh, sometimes soap and water with a scrub brush will remove a bit of the fungus. You can power wash them off of vinyl siding but such methods can be damaging to cars and wood siding.

Which mulch does not have artillery fungus?

(Penn State testing found that pine-bark nuggets as well as cypress and cedar mulches are some of the least likely mulches to harbor artillery fungus.)Aug 6, 2009.

What fungicide kills artillery fungus?

There are no fungicides labeled for use against the artillery fungus in landscape mulch. Bleach, if it worked, would be very temporary, since it leaches out with each rain.

Can you paint over artillery fungus?

It is possible to paint over artillery fungus. First sand the surface; otherwise, tiny lumps will remain under the paint. I recommend priming first with a stain-killing primer such as Zinsser’s Bulls Eye 1-2-3, which is sold at many paint stores.

What are the little black dots on my vinyl siding?

The dark spots you see on your siding is a wood-decaying fungus and it does not care if you have wood, vinyl, or hard-plank siding it will latch onto it. This fungus comes from the mulch in your flower beds. Chances are if you have mulch around your house you have Artillery Fungus growth.

How long does artillery fungus live?

When the peridioles dry, they become very difficult to remove. Unfortunately, Sphaerobolus can be long-lived and peridioles have been found to still be viable for up to 12 years.

How do you detect artillery fungus?

Homeowners are occasionally puzzled by the appearance of small black spots spattered on cars, the leaves of ornamental plants, siding, downspouts, soffits and windows of their homes. These spots are often mistakenly identified as tar, scale insects, or insect excrement.

What does artillery mold look like?

Artillery fungus, or Sphaerobolus, looks like mud or dirt spots, and while the spores aren’t harmful, they can stain your home, deck or car if not cleaned thoroughly. The common fungus can be found in bark, mulch, and manure, and has the ability to propel spores several feet – giving the spots a splattered appearance.

Does black mulch explode?

The ballpoint-sized black dots on your siding are indeed artillery fungus, which is coming from decomposing mulch next to the foundation. The fungus explodes in the spring or fall when the temperature is ideal for the spores to do so, and can be propelled 20-plus feet into the air, which is where it gets its name.

Can you power wash artillery fungus?

A professional pressure wash can prevent damage and discoloration from artillery fungus. Pressure washing uses pure water and steam—it will clean without staining or discoloring your siding or deck. A power wash professional can also recommend a surfaces surface sealing agent.

Does cedar mulch grow fungus?

High in carbon and nitrogen, cedar mulch enhances the surrounding soil nutrient levels to allow plants to flourish. However, fungus can occur within cedar mulch, which is damaging to healthy plant life.

Does all mulch have artillery fungus?

No. All mulches that we studied eventually supported the artillery fungus after being outside for several years. However, some mulch performed better than others.

What are the black dots on my house?

What Are These Black Dots? Shotgun fungus (Sphaerobolus stellatus) originates in the mulch that homeowners love to add to landscapes this time of year. Its name is derived from the Greek word for “spear thrower,” as it indicates how the black spores are propelled onto a home’s siding.

What are the little black spots on my house?

Mulch/dirt spots If you notice lots of tiny black or dark brown spots developing on your siding above a landscaped area of your yard (as seen below), it is most likely artillery—otherwise known as shotgun—fungus. Artillery fungus is a wood-dwelling fungus commonly found in mulch.