Every year I get several calls from my customers asking "what’s that slimy stuff on my growing in my bark? It looks like a dog threw up in my shrub bed!"

That "slimy stuff" has a very apt name. It is called slime mold. It may look vicious, but it is harmless.

The following text was taken from the Sylva Corporation. The photo of the slime mold was taken in my yard.

With the rains and heat of summer come the vast array of slime molds (also known as dog vomit fungi) appearing in mulch. They appear in several sizes and colors with no definite shape.The mold may change on a daily basis from a bright yellow netting to a tan powder to a dark brown dried blob. Slime molds get their nutrients from dead organic matter, including mulch.Although slime molds may grow on plants, they do not harm them. Slime molds will eventually disappear on their own. If you want to speed this process, rake the mulch to prevent air drying.

For additional information regarding these molds, try the following websites’ pages on slime mold:

• Palomar
• Colorado State
• USU