Question
Hi,
I have already asked the soil guys and this question is out of their range.  I am hopeing you might know something.
I live in Glendale Arizona where every day is easily over 100 degrees outside. My yard is in full sun all day. I have what appears to be mold of some kind growing all over the ground. I have lived here about six months and in that time, I have been pulling and digging up the weeds to prepare for planting grass. I have used no kind of weed killers or anything like that. What could this possibly be and how can it be fixed? It has a terrible musty odor to it.
Thank you,
Shirley

Answer
Good Morning Shirley:
A white or light yellow mold-like growth may indicate the presence of a saprophytic soil fungus, a fungus that lives on dead or decaying matter. I have a hunch that your yard has a great deal of wood mulch, sawdust, or other construction wood debris under the soil surface. As the wood decays, mold and fungi begin to feed on it.
About the only thing I can do for you is give you some web sites to look at. I believe as the temperature decreases in your area this fall the mold will disappear. Fall is the best time to start your new lawn anyway.

Control of Nuisance Mold In compost Etc.: Read "Temperature, Moisture Content, and pH"
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3304.html

Fairy Rings and their Control (Arizona):
http://ag.arizona.edu/turf/tips598.html

Slime Mold Information:
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/dp_hfrr/extensn/problems/slimmold.htm
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/columngw/grslime.html
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/1435.html

Get in touch with me in late July and I will give you information on starting your new lawn. Let me know what type of grass you are going to grow.
Arizona Turf Tips:
http://ag.arizona.edu/turf/tt.htm

Have a good lawn!
Floyd McMahon