Slime mold
Colorful slimy or crusty growths on grass, mulch or stems after wet weather; harmless and short-lived.
What you'll see
- White, gray, yellow, beige or pink slimy masses or tiny beads on grass blades, mulch or low stems.
- After a few dry days they turn powdery or crusty and crumble away.
- The plant or grass underneath stays healthy.
Why it happens
Slime molds are simple organisms that feed on fungi and bacteria in soil, mulch and thatch. In warm, wet weather they climb onto plants and grass to make spores.
What to do
- Nothing to treat: they don't infect plants, sprays won't help, and they disappear on their own.
- Rake or mow off dense patches if they block light from the grass.
Keep it from coming back
- Expect them in warm, wet spells; they come and go with the weather.
Sources
General guidance, not a diagnosis. For valuable, edible or outdoor crops, check with a local extension service or plant expert. Use any product exactly as its label says, and keep children and pets away while it dries.