Put on gardening gloves before handling the fungus. Avoid touching your face, and wash your hands after finishing.
Step 2: Remove the visible mushroom
Carefully lift or scoop out the fruiting body, including any visible egg-like structure near the base.
Place it in a bag or other container for disposal, following your local waste guidelines.
Avoid crushing or rubbing the spore-bearing surface unnecessarily.
Step 3: Dispose of it safely
Keep the removed mushroom away from children and pets. Don't put it somewhere animals might easily retrieve and eat it.
If you're unsure how your local waste service handles garden fungi, follow its guidance.
Step 4: Check the surrounding mulch
Look for very wet areas, piles of decaying leaves, buried wood, or other organic material where fungi may be growing.
You don't have to remove all your mulch. Organic mulch is beneficial to gardens, and stinkhorns are not usually a reason to abandon it.
If the area stays excessively wet, improving drainage or avoiding unnecessary watering may help reduce conditions that favor repeated fruiting.
Step 5: Give the area time
Stinkhorns are often short-lived. If you don't mind waiting, the visible structures may collapse and disappear on their own.
According to Iowa State University Extension, stinkhorns eventually wither away and can be raked or discarded if their appearance or odor is bothersome. Source: Iowa State University Extension
Should you use fungicide?
Usually, there is no need to reach for a chemical treatment just because a stinkhorn has appeared.
The fungus is often breaking down organic matter rather than attacking healthy plants, and removing the visible fruiting body may be enough to address the immediate problem.
Avoid applying chemicals without a clear reason and appropriate local guidance.
Will Red Stinkhorns Come Back Every Year?
They might, but it's not guaranteed.
If the fungus remains established in the soil, mulch, or decaying wood, it may produce new mushrooms whenever conditions are favorable.
Moisture, temperature, available organic material, and the species involved all influence whether and when fruiting occurs.
You might see several mushrooms after a rainy spell, then none for months. You might also find that the fungus gradually becomes less noticeable as the available material decomposes.
There isn't a universal schedule for stinkhorn growth.
If you want to reduce repeat appearances, focus on managing excessively wet areas and removing decaying material that you don't want in the landscape. Even then, complete prevention may not be possible.
Red Stinkhorn vs. Other Strange Backyard Growths
Not every unusual orange, red, or smelly growth is a stinkhorn.
A few distinctions can help you decide whether you need a closer identification.
| Backyard discovery | What it may look like | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Red stinkhorn | Upright red-orange stalk or horn, sometimes with dark slime | Often grows in mulch or decaying organic matter and may smell foul |
| Slime mold | Yellow, orange, pink, or cream-colored mass spread across mulch | Often looks like foam or a soft, irregular patch rather than an upright mushroom |
| Other mushrooms | Caps, clusters, cups, or irregular fruiting bodies in various colors | Some may resemble stinkhorns, so color alone is not enough for identification |
| Decaying plant material | Discolored, softened, or rotting organic matter | May smell unpleasant without being a mushroom |
University of Massachusetts Amherst Extension explains that wood-chip mulch and compost can support several different fungi and fungus-like organisms, many of which are natural parts of the decomposition process. Source: UMass Amherst Extension
If you cannot confidently identify what you've found, take a photograph and consult a local university extension service, mycological society, or other qualified specialist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did a red mushroom suddenly grow in my mulch?
The fungus may already have been present in the decomposing organic material. When conditions become favorable, the visible fruiting body can develop very quickly, sometimes within a day or two.
Does the smell mean the mushroom is poisonous?
No. A foul smell is a characteristic of many stinkhorns and helps attract insects that spread their spores. However, smell cannot establish whether an unidentified mushroom is safe or poisonous.
Will stinkhorns kill my flowers or vegetables?
Stinkhorns generally feed on dead and decaying organic material rather than healthy plants. Their presence alone does not mean your flowers or vegetables are in danger.
Can I leave the mushroom alone?
In many cases, yes. If you're confident that it's a stinkhorn and there are no children or pets likely to eat it, you can allow it to break down naturally. If you're uncertain about its identity, keep people and animals away until you can obtain advice.
Should I remove the mulch where it grows?
Not necessarily. Mulch provides important benefits, including moisture retention and weed suppression. Removing an entire garden bed's mulch just because a stinkhorn appears is usually unnecessary.
Does removing one mushroom get rid of the fungus?
Not always. The visible mushroom is only the reproductive structure. The fungus may remain within the organic material and produce more fruiting bodies later.
Can I compost a stinkhorn?
Because identification and composting practices vary, follow local gardening or waste-management guidance. If the fungus is unidentified and children or pets could access the compost, keep it contained and out of reach.
Can I eat a red stinkhorn?
Don't eat a wild mushroom based on a photograph, color, smell, or general description. Some stinkhorn species are reported as edible, but look-alikes and identification mistakes can be dangerous. Only consider consuming a wild mushroom after its identity and edibility have been reliably confirmed by a qualified expert.
The Bottom Line: That Strange Red Growth May Be More Natural Than You Think
Finding a bright red-orange, foul-smelling fungus in your backyard can certainly be startling.
One minute, your garden looks ordinary. The next, something that resembles a tiny alien has appeared in the mulch!
But if the growth is a stinkhorn, there's usually a simple explanation. It's a fungus using decaying organic material to grow and reproduce, with its unpleasant odor helping attract insects that carry its spores elsewhere.
In many gardens, stinkhorns aren't a threat to healthy plants and don't require aggressive treatment. You can remove the visible mushroom if its smell or appearance bothers you, or allow it to disappear naturally.
Just remember that identifying a mushroom correctly matters. Not every strange growth is a stinkhorn, and an unidentified wild mushroom should never be eaten.
So the next time you spot something red, strange, and smelly in the garden, take a closer look from a safe distance. Nature is full of fascinating surprises—even the ones that don't smell particularly lovely!
Have You Found a Red Stinkhorn in Your Backyard?
I'd love to hear about your garden discoveries!
Have you spotted one of these unusual fungi in your mulch, compost, or flower beds? Did it appear after a rainy day, and did the smell surprise you?
Share your experience in the comments. If you have a photograph, it may also help others compare what they've found—but remember that a photo-based guess isn't a substitute for reliable identification.
And if you enjoy discovering the surprising things that grow around our homes, share this article with a fellow gardener who might be wondering what on earth has appeared in their backyard.
