I firmly believe that understanding a particular pest or disease puts you well on the way to solving the problem.
Honey fungus lives in dead and decaying roots, tree stumps and other woody items in the soil. It grows out from these in the form of black root-like rhizomorphs ('bootlaces') at the rate of around 1m a year. The rhizomorphs grow relatively close to the soil surface (in the top 20cm) and invade new roots, or the root collar (where the roots meet the stem) of woody plants.
An infected tree will die once the fungus has girdled it, or when extensive root death has occurred. The fungus also spreads from root to root where they are in close contact.
The honey fungus 'fruiting body' or toadstool appears in the autumn, if at all. Airborne infection by spores from the toadstools is rare.
A tree, shrub or section of hedge may die suddenly, or it may gradually decline in health over period of weeks, months or years. The plant may also have shown prolific flowering or fruiting previously, or early leaf fall or autumn colour.
Other trees or shrubs in the area may also have died over a period of years. A resin, gum, or a watery liquid may ooze from the bark at the base of the stem.
Bark around the base of the tree dies and comes away easily. Clumps of honey-brown toadstools may appear around the base of the tree, or nearby stumps, in late September and early October.
Black root-like structures - known as rhizomorphs or bootlaces - may be seen in the soil, in compost heaps and piles of leaves, and under mulches. In most cases, the rhizomorphs that are the most obvious are those of the Armillaria species that only live on dead wood.
The presence of Armillaria toadstools, or black rhizomorphs, does not necessarily mean that the pathogenic (disease causing) strains of honey fungus are present in the garden. Nor do they necessarily indicate that honey fungus is the cause of the death or decline of particular plants. Unfortunately identification of the different
Armillarea species is not easy to spot, so other methods should be used to confirm honey fungus as the cause of disease or death.
Remove outer bark from the stem or trunk at ground level. If you see a sheet of creamy-white fungal growth, with a strong smell of mushrooms, under the bark, this confirms the presence of honey fungus.
You can prevent honey fungus spreading from a diseased plant to other plants by creating a vertical barrier, 30-40cm deep, in the soil. Thick plastic or butyl, as would be used for a pond liner, is ideal.
As to replanting on the site, there are some trees that should definitely not use - birch, apple, cedar, cypress, lilac, pine, privet, walnut and willow.
However ash, beech, clematis, hawthorn, holly, larch and yew appear to be fairly resistant to honey fungus, or non woody species such as herbaceous plants
As for getting rid of it, this is tricky as there is no longer any chemical remedy available on the amateur market. However Bartletts Tree Experts have come up with a solution- they use an air spade to remove all the soil in between infected roots, and they then backfill the area with sand. This appears to stop the bootlaces in their tracks
They have experts on hand to come and look and deliver their remedy. Visit their website to find out more.
https://www.bartletttree.co.uk/insect-a ... gement.cfm
If I can be of any further help, then do not hesitate to find me
www.auntieplanty.co.uk
Good luck!
I firmly believe that understanding a particular pest or disease puts you well on the way to solving the problem.
Honey fungus lives in dead and decaying roots, tree stumps and other woody items in the soil. It grows out from these in the form of black root-like rhizomorphs ('bootlaces') at the rate of around 1m a year. The rhizomorphs grow relatively close to the soil surface (in the top 20cm) and invade new roots, or the root collar (where the roots meet the stem) of woody plants.
An infected tree will die once the fungus has girdled it, or when extensive root death has occurred. The fungus also spreads from root to root where they are in close contact.
The honey fungus 'fruiting body' or toadstool appears in the autumn, if at all. Airborne infection by spores from the toadstools is rare.
A tree, shrub or section of hedge may die suddenly, or it may gradually decline in health over period of weeks, months or years. The plant may also have shown prolific flowering or fruiting previously, or early leaf fall or autumn colour.
Other trees or shrubs in the area may also have died over a period of years. A resin, gum, or a watery liquid may ooze from the bark at the base of the stem.
Bark around the base of the tree dies and comes away easily. Clumps of honey-brown toadstools may appear around the base of the tree, or nearby stumps, in late September and early October.
Black root-like structures - known as rhizomorphs or bootlaces - may be seen in the soil, in compost heaps and piles of leaves, and under mulches. In most cases, the rhizomorphs that are the most obvious are those of the Armillaria species that only live on dead wood.
The presence of Armillaria toadstools, or black rhizomorphs, does not necessarily mean that the pathogenic (disease causing) strains of honey fungus are present in the garden. Nor do they necessarily indicate that honey fungus is the cause of the death or decline of particular plants. Unfortunately identification of the different
Armillarea species is not easy to spot, so other methods should be used to confirm honey fungus as the cause of disease or death.
Remove outer bark from the stem or trunk at ground level. If you see a sheet of creamy-white fungal growth, with a strong smell of mushrooms, under the bark, this confirms the presence of honey fungus.
You can prevent honey fungus spreading from a diseased plant to other plants by creating a vertical barrier, 30-40cm deep, in the soil. Thick plastic or butyl, as would be used for a pond liner, is ideal.
As to replanting on the site, there are some trees that should definitely not use - birch, apple, cedar, cypress, lilac, pine, privet, walnut and willow.
However ash, beech, clematis, hawthorn, holly, larch and yew appear to be fairly resistant to honey fungus, or non woody species such as herbaceous plants
As for getting rid of it, this is tricky as there is no longer any chemical remedy available on the amateur market. However Bartletts Tree Experts have come up with a solution- they use an air spade to remove all the soil in between infected roots, and they then backfill the area with sand. This appears to stop the bootlaces in their tracks
They have experts on hand to come and look and deliver their remedy. Visit their website to find out more.
https://www.bartletttree.co.uk/insect-and-disease-management.cfm
If I can be of any further help, then do not hesitate to find me
www.auntieplanty.co.uk
Good luck!
