Mushrooms are a common staple of yards and outdoor areas throughout the Valley, and chances are you've seen these brown mushroom species in your yard this year. They are known as honey mushrooms or ringless honey mushrooms, and if you haven't spotted them yet, you may this Autumn season.

"Different species of fungi, just like plants, there's times and seasons when they send up their fruiting body or their reproductive structure which can be a toadstool or a mushroom," says ODNR's Chief Botanist Rick Gardner. 

These specific mushrooms, which can seem like unwelcome fall ornaments in our yards, typically grow near tree roots, but what you see above the ground is just the tip of the iceberg compared to what is growing underneath the ground.

"The mushrooms you see are the fruiting body of the mushrooms. There's a whole network of underground parts that help decay the plant material in the soil," adds Gardner. 

If you are looking for ways to treat your yard to try and prevent the mushrooms from popping up, Gardner says these can actually benefit your yard's health.

"Fungi are the garbage disposal systems of nature. They help break down plant material and bring the plant material down enough that the minerals and nutrients that plants and animals need to survive are available. Having those mushrooms in the ground helps break down and be a source of fertilizer," says Gardner.