Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Honey fungus - is it spread from root cuttings of perennials?

William202William202 Posts: 2
in Problem solving
I took some garden mint and golden rod root cuttings/rootballs from a friend's garden which I now know has honey fungus. That fungus appeared for the first time late this summer and we now know it was the cause of the death of a mature birch tree, rather then just drought. The tree was about 7m from the bed that I took the plants from. I planted them out in late August. Is there a chance I've just infected by own garden and if so by removing the mint and solidago now, in November, will that help or is it just too late? I've read that the fungus can attack herbaceous plants as well as shrubs, and it would be no great loss to remove mint, I suppose. Needless to say I chose a spot near my rowan tree...
«1

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I think it takes a lot longer than that for the trademark black boostraps which are the underground manifestation of honey fungus to grow into, infest and infect and eventually kill a big tree.  

    There is no treatment available other than removing the affected soil and replacing it and/or using a barrier.  You can also grow less susceptible plants.  Have a look at this link.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=180

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    Honey fungus is pretty widespread. Your tree may have been vulnerable in some way or it may have died from something else. I think the main thing is not to panic but to replace affected plants with resistant ones if/as you lose them. You are very unlikely to be able to eradicate the fungus, honestly, but you will still have a varied and attractive garden.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    If it were me, I'd dig up the mint and golden rod with quite a bit of the surrounding soil and dispose of them appropriately. Then clean the tools you've used.
    For the sake of £5 of plants it's just not worth the risk of infecting your garden with something that can be devastating to many plants

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Disagree - the tree will have been infected long before the mint and GR arrived - not that I'd plant either of those in the ground either as they're both so invasive.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    The infected tree is not in the OP's garden

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    The fungae spreads by black laces which can be miles long and criss cross all over the terrain.   It won't be confined to one small area so if the friend is nearby it's likely to be too late.

    Otherwise, yes, dig out the mint and GR and get rid in the council bin, not the compost.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • William202William202 Posts: 2
    Apols for the very late reply but I did follow the tips here and I removed the mint and golden rod with the surrounding soil in the hope that just one month in my garden was not enough time for any fungus to have transferred and settled there. I planted the cuttings/roots in contained beds as I know both are invasive plants, so I hope I acted in time by removing them. I had wanted to offer these plants a new home, as they were given to me by an elderly friend, and I did so before there were any signs of disease in my friend's birch tree. That tree subsequently died, quite rapidly. It had looked sickly but we had thought it was caused by the 2018 Summer heat. When a tree surgeon took it down and sent the new toadstools off for proper diagnosis, that confirmed one of the strains of honey fungus had killed the tree. Fingers crossed that none of the spores or more importantly the bootlaces transferred to my garden. I so wish that I had just said "no". 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I still don't think the honey fungus will have come from your perennials.  It's much slower spreading than that and takes more than just one season to kill off a tree.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=180 
    and 
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=1015 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • NellyACNellyAC Posts: 2
    I agree with Obelixx.  I have had honey fungus in my garden for years with two birch trees infected for at least five of them without being killed.  About four years ago I had them removed but they were still growing strong before then despite being infected for so long.  I dug up as much of the root as I could and planted herbaceous perennials, a plumbago, honeysuckle and a hebe in the area.  All are thriving (I have a theory that using Mychorizzal fungi when planting may have helped.. but just a theory) and whilst I still find the odd shoe lace, it doesn't unduly bother me.  I'm with Posy and suspect it's everwhere.

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Could someone post a pic of a 'shoelace'?
    In London. Keen but lazy.
Sign In or Register to comment.