Artillery Fungus: What Is It and How Does It Affect Commercial Buildings and Homeowners?

It’s fall and the time of year when commercial building owners and homeowners alike prepare their landscaping for the cooler temperatures ahead. One of the ways flower and landscaping beds are prepared is to apply landscaping mulch in and around plants and trees to keep moisture in, add beauty to the area, and insulate the root systems for cooler temperatures. However, mulch can provide a food source or feeding ground for fungus growth.

The fungus that is produced by the moist landscaping mulch is otherwise known as “Artillery Fungus.” The name, derived from the Greek word “Spear Thrower” comes by the name naturally. Artillery fungus can shoot mold spores up to 20 feet away. However, the harm they cause doesn’t stop there. Let’s examine further the harm that artillery fungus can do and what you can do to get rid of it.

How Artillery Fungus Grows

Commercial office buildings and homeowners tend to re-mulch flowerbeds and trees in the fall. The most commonly used mulch consists of hardwood shreds or chips that will retain moisture and provide a beautiful cover in landscape beds. However, the mulch becomes a breeding ground for fungus growth.

Fungus is a natural decomposer and breaks down the plant material when the fungus is active and presents itself on vinyl siding, cars, sidewalks, brick, and concrete building facades as small black dots. These black dots are mold spores that attach very easily to any surface. Some you can see, other times they are microscopic, but they are there! Propelling up to 20 feet and more, natural mulch cannot resist this fungus.

How To Remove Mold Spores and Prevent Mold Growth

When warmer weather arrives, artillery fungus rejects spores when temperatures are 50 degrees and above. But the more time a mold spore stays in place anywhere that it lands, the harder it is to remove, especially from concrete, brick, and siding. It is important to try and remove the mold spores two to three weeks after they first appear to ensure that they don’t consume and ruin the surfaces they have landed on.

If you choose to mulch your landscaping beds, the solution to clean this situation is to pressure wash or pressure clean the dirty surfaces. If the fungus is fresh, pressure washing will be the solution to removing the mold. Trying to remove the fungus without professional help from a company that provides pressure washing services will be incredibly difficult.

Schedule Pressure Washing in DC Today

The key to removing mold spores via pressure washing is to hire a professional, whether the artillery fungus is on your office building or your home. They have the tools and the training to get the job done correctly. A professional can restore the appearance and beauty of your surfaces and lengthen the life of your brick, concrete siding and ensure that the fungus is removed. If you go for the mulch, make sure you refresh at least two times a year.

Get started by contacting KEVCO for professional pressure washing services in the DC area.