The #1 Way to Prevent Artillery Fungus Damage in 2025: Ditch Your Mulch
Getting ready to refresh your landscape for 2025? Before you order another yard of wood mulch, stop. This year, the smartest decision you can make for your home’s exterior has nothing to do with paint colors or pressure washing—it’s about what you put in your flowerbeds.
As a company that has professionally cleaned homes in the Tallahassee area for over a decade, we’re telling you definitively: the best way to protect your home from stubborn, permanent damage is to get rid of wood mulch and replace it with pine straw. Here’s why this simple switch is so critical.
The Hidden Enemy in Your Flowerbed: Artillery Fungus
Artillery fungus growing in mulch Tallahassee, Florida.
Our humid Florida climate is a breeding ground for organic growth like algae and mildew. The good news? That green stuff is easy to fix. An annual soft wash from a professional service like ours safely removes it, restoring your home’s beauty.
But there’s another, far more sinister issue we see on homes every week: Artillery Fungus.
This fungus, also known as “shotgun fungus,” thrives in the decaying, moist environment of wood chip and bark mulches. It gets its name from its method of attack: it launches tiny, black, spore-filled spheres into the air that act like a biological superglue. These spores are attracted to light-colored surfaces, making your home’s siding, windows, and trim their primary target.
Why This Fungus Causes Permanent Damage
Small, tar-like black spots from artillery fungus firmly attached to the siding of a house.
This is where the problem gets serious for homeowners. Those black, tar-like dots are nearly impossible to remove.
Washing is Ineffective: Soft washing, the industry-standard method for safely cleaning siding, won’t touch them.
Scraping Causes Damage: Using high pressure or trying to scrape the spots off will almost certainly damage your siding, leading to scratches, gouges, and chipped paint.
We’ve seen this issue on homes of all ages—even brand-new construction less than a year old. Imagine the frustration of having a beautiful new home permanently speckled with black dots, all because of the mulch in the flowerbeds. Often, the only way to truly fix the cosmetic damage is to repaint the entire affected area. It’s a costly, frustrating, and completely avoidable problem.
Pine Straw: The Proactive, Superior Solution
Landscaping in Tallahassee with pine straw, the best way to prevent artillery fungus and protect a home’s siding.
The most effective and cost-efficient way to guarantee your home never suffers from artillery fungus damage is simple: do not install wood mulch near your house.
The definitive solution is pine straw. Artillery fungus cannot grow or thrive in pine straw; it requires decaying wood material to survive. By making this one change, you eliminate the threat at its source.
Beyond Fungus: The Added Benefits of Choosing Pine Straw
Preventing permanent siding damage is reason enough to make the switch, but pine straw offers several other advantages for your Bradfordville landscape:
Excellent Weed Suppression: A thick layer of pine straw is fantastic at preventing unwanted weeds.
Superior Moisture Retention: It helps soil retain moisture, keeping your plants healthy during dry spells.
Natural & Sustainable: Pine straw provides a beautiful, classic Southern look and is a renewable resource.
Improves Soil Health: As it slowly decomposes, pine straw enriches your soil, promoting healthy plant growth.
Already Have Black Spots? Here’s Your Action Plan
If you’re already seeing those telltale black specks, don’t panic. While removing the existing spores is a challenge, you must act now to prevent thousands more from appearing.
Remove the Source Immediately: The most critical step is to bag up and completely remove all of the contaminated wood mulch from around your home’s foundation.
Dispose of It Properly: Do not compost it. The fungus can survive and spread. Throw it away.
Make the Switch: Replace the old mulch with a fresh layer of pine straw to ensure the problem doesn’t return.
Consult a Professional: For the existing spots on your siding, contact us for an assessment. We can determine the extent of the issue and advise on the safest next steps to avoid damaging your home’s exterior.
Your home is your biggest investment. Don’t let a simple landscaping choice lead to permanent damage. Choose pine straw this season and protect your property’s beauty and value for years to come.
Nick LoomisOwner-Operator
Since 2012, Nick Loomis of Hot Water Pressure Washing has been a trusted expert in Tallahassee's exterior cleaning industry. With over a decade of experience, he's passionate about two things: delivering incredible results for his customers and finding innovative solutions to do the job right.
