Noticing a green blob or jelly-like mass in your yard? You’re not alone; How it can be removed

DAYTON — As it is said, April showers bring May flowers, but it also brings a jelly-like mass to yards.

The jelly-like mass is an organism called the Nostoc commune and thrives in wet conditions.

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According to Clemson College of Agriculture, the Nostoc commune is often mislabeled as algae and is not considered a plant or bacterium. It can grow on grass, gravel, and cement; however, this is not harmful to your yard, nor will it kill your grass.

“This cyanobacterium does not kill turfgrass or anything else in Ohio landscapes. Openings in turfgrass are being caused by something else, and Nostoc commune is just an innocent bystander taking advantage of an opening to the sky,” The Ohio State University Assistant Professor Joe Boggs recently wrote.

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Finding the jelly-like mass can be alarming for some, but it is easy to remove. Clemson University Consumer Horticulture Extension Agent N. Jordan Franklin suggests taking a flat-edged shovel and skimming the surface below the nostoc commune to remove it. If there is a large area in your yard of Nostoc commune, Franklin says to till around the area and then remove it.

To help prevent finding these green blobs in your yard, look for low areas that collect water and fix it by either adding additional drainage, filling in low spots, or reducing the amount of sprinkler time your yard gets.

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Ohio State University Assistant Professor Joe Boggs suggests, “If you can’t beat’em, eat’em .... with caution”.

According to Boggs, in some Asian countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, and China, the Nostoc commune is consumed. Before consuming it, Boggs suggests reaching out to an “experienced harvester” before tasting it. So next time you make some scrambled eggs, add some cooked Nostoc commune and give it a taste.

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