History

• Slime mold was once thought of as an animal, according to Colorado State University Extension. Mycologists, scientists who study fungus, could not understand slime mold's slow moving nature. For years, slime mold was classified under different phylums until the 1970s when the yellow ground fungus was put in the Kingdom Protista. In fact, the scientific name for slime mold is Physarum polycephalum. There are more than 700 different species of mold that have been reported and identified as slime mold.
  
  

Environment

• Slime mold thrives in cool moist areas. This yellow ground fungus needs ground moisture from grass, mulch or other organic matter to survive. Basically, gardeners may find slime mold in areas that contain their food. Bacteria, decaying organic material and protozoa are the staple food sources for slime mold which is why it is often seen on mulch. Unfortunately, their creeping nature causes harm to ornamental plants. When slime mold covers an ornamental flower, the plant suffocates.
  
  

Life Cycle

• The spores that cause slime mold are spread by wind, lawn mowers, rain water and foot traffic. As slime mold moves across turf or mulch, it ingests its food by releasing chemicals that break down organic matter and ingest them through their cell walls. Despite slime mold appearance, this fungus is actually one large cell with millions of nuclei rather than many cells. Furthermore, slime mold does not indicate that you lawn or flowerbed has an underlining health concern. This fungus spreads in both health and unhealthy yards.
  
  

Treatment

• Remove slime mold by spraying down the fungus. Left on its own, slime mold eventually turns into a powder like substance that is blown away in the wind. Gardeners that have slime mold growing on their mulch may remove the fungus with a rake. Break up the fungus and allow the mulch to dry out, as recommended by Colorado State University. You can also withhold water from some areas to create a less than hospitable environment for slime mold.