The presence of an orange stinkhorn fungus in your garden is usually a temporary nuisance announced by an intensely foul smell. This common fungus is harmless to plants and lawns, acting as a decomposer that breaks down organic matter. However, the odor, often described as resembling rotting meat, makes its presence intolerable for most homeowners seeking immediate removal.
Recognizing the Stinkhorn Stages
Identifying the fungus requires recognizing its two main life stages. The organism first appears as a small, white structure colloquially known as a “witch’s egg.” This initial stage is typically buried in mulch or soil, has a soft, gelatinous texture, and is often the size of a golf ball. Since this egg stage does not produce the characteristic smell, it is the ideal time for removal.
The second stage is the mature fruiting body, which gives the fungus its common name. Orange varieties emerge suddenly as a bright, cage-like, or latticed structure. The noxious odor comes from the gleba, a slimy, dark-green, spore-bearing mass coating the inner surfaces. This smell attracts flies and other insects, which pick up the sticky spores and carry them away, ensuring reproduction.
Immediate Physical Removal
The most effective way to eliminate the odor is prompt physical removal, especially by targeting the “witch’s egg” stage before it hatches. Put on disposable gloves to avoid contact with the foul-smelling gleba or the mature body. Use a small shovel or trowel to dig up the entire structure, scooping out the egg-shaped base below the soil surface. This base is the main source of the fungus’s reproductive potential.
Also remove the surrounding soil or mulch within a six-inch radius of the fungus location. This helps remove any undeveloped eggs or parts of the underground mycelial network near the surface. All excavated material, including the fungus, gloves, and soil, should be sealed immediately inside a plastic bag. Tightly seal the bag and dispose of it in a closed outdoor garbage container, as composting will spread the spores.
Managing the Growing Conditions
Since the stinkhorn is a decomposer, its appearance signals an abundance of decaying organic matter, its primary food source. The fungus’s extensive mycelial network feeds underground on buried wood debris, old roots, or deep layers of hardwood mulch. Long-term management focuses on reducing or eliminating this food source and altering the environment.
Begin by raking back thick layers of mulch, as the fungus prefers moist, protected locations. Consider replacing hardwood chip mulch with less suitable alternatives like pine needles, straw, or vegetative groundcover. Improving soil drainage is also beneficial, since the fungi typically appear during periods of high moisture.
If the stinkhorns are repeatedly appearing in the same spot, there may be a buried stump or large piece of wood beneath the surface. Removing this buried debris is the most definitive way to prevent future fruiting bodies from emerging. Reducing the food source and excessive moisture makes the area inhospitable, preventing the recurrence of the orange stinkhorn fungus.