Artillery Fungus: A Homeowner’s Dilemma
Homeowners are known to face their fair share of struggles from one day to the next. If it’s not the water heater going out, it’s an unpleasant sprouting of weeds that is compromising the integrity of your grass. Some homeowners face an even worse problem: artillery fungus. This dreadful fungus is one of the more annoying things that can happen to your home, but what makes it worse is that it is extremely difficult to remove. In this post, we are going to discuss these tiny black dots that attach to siding, windows, and gutters and what does and does not work to manage it.
What Is Artillery Fungus?
Artillery fungus is a particularly resilient fungus that is known for its unique love of wood. This wood-decaying fungus is known for its bizarre hunger for mulch. In fact, the majority of homes that catch an artillery fungus infection get it from mulch, as this is one of the more common ways for it to spread. Though it is incredibly small and can often represent itself as dark spots, it is a powerful fungus. In fact, this cannon-shaped fungus has the ability to launch its spores up to ten feet in total, making it quite effective at spreading. Unfortunately, this puts all wood in the surrounding area at risk and can cause some problems for a home.
How To Treat Artillery Fungus
Part of what makes this unique fungus so problematic is that it is virtually untreatable. The reality is that there is no easy way to get rid of it. No amount of chemicals or even pressure washing will truly treat artillery fungus. Although there is nothing that guarantees the removal of the fungus, some people have claimed to have had good luck occasionally with vinegar. The worst part is that it does not actually pose any direct risk. It is simply unsightly and nearly impossible to get rid of without some sort of sacrifice.
How to Avoid Artillery Fungus
The most effective way to avoid this particular fungus is easy: don’t buy mulch, or use rubber mulch. While mulch is a favored option for landscaping, it does come with its fair share of risks. To truly limit your chances of getting this fungal infection, you will need to skip the mulch entirely. However, if you do decide to gamble and get mulch for your yard, periodically raking the mulch can help to limit the chance of it spreading. Another good preventative measure is to use mushroom compost.
Conclusion
Artillery fungus is one unsightly nuisance that has known to give homeowners some trouble from time to time. As pressure washers, we truly wish that we could help with this situation, but this particular fungus is too much for even us. If you do decide to decorate with mulch, make sure that you continuously flip it out to avoid this development. It is easier to avoid artillery fungus than treat it, so act accordingly.