Stinkhorn Fungi in Flower Bed: Hand Removal, Mulch Management, No Chemicals

Stinkhorns (Phallus rubicundus) in mulch near impatiens, roses, begonias. Eradicate by hand.

Removal Protocol

• Wear rubber gloves—slime is smelly and hard to wash off.
• Dig up mushrooms + surrounding soil + any white “egg” strands. Bag and trash.
• If small area, remove all mulch; compost at 140°F (turn, add nitrogen) to kill fungus.

Prevention

• Don’t add new mulch over infested mulch.
• Switch to composted, low-wood mulch or coarse woody mulch (<2 in deep).
• Non-wood mulch (pebbles) avoids stinkhorns.

Chemicals Not Recommended

Bleach, salt, gasoline, Listerine—may contaminate soil, harm plants. No fungicides labeled for stinkhorns; they’d kill beneficial fungi.