Does anyone know what this is?

Posts

• delski Posts: 274

  April 2021

  Have you recently added manure to the beds? What happens when you crush one of those bits between your fingers?

  I don't think it's anything harmless.
  

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• Fire Posts: 19,096

  April 2021 edited April 2021

  delski said:

  I don't think it's anything harmless.
  

  
  "I don't think it's anything harmful" - I think you meant @delski
  

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• BobTheGardener Posts: 11,385

  April 2021

  It's a fungal mycelium which is breaking down woody matter in the soil into forms plants can use, so is almost certainly nothing to worry about.  Very, very few soil fungi are harmful to plants and most are beneficial.  Best to break up any lumps or layers you may find though as some mycelia have water repellent properties.
  

  A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  

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• delski Posts: 274

  April 2021

  Fire said:

  "I don't think it's anything harmful" - I think you meant @delski
  

  
  Yes, that's what I meant! @Annmilway it's just fungus as per what bob le gardner said. I only find this in my bags of manure. Just crush the bits between your fingers to break them up.
  

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• Annmilway Posts: 3

  April 2021

  Thank you both very much for your answers. On digging deeper though there really is an excessive amount. Could it have anything to do with one of my cats using this particular bed as a loo last autumn when I forgot to cover it? 

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• JennyJ Posts: 10,576

  April 2021

  Errr.... yes, if you didn't remove what he left, that could be what the mould is growing on. I've found old poo like that in spring (not my cat, he's an indoors boy).
  

  Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  

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• WillowBark Posts: 243

  April 2021 edited April 2021

  Could well do. If that is a vegetable bed, you may want to look in to removing all of the soil and replacing it with fresh. Cat poo is a toxoplasmosis risk. If you don't want to replace the soil, then personally I would use that bed for ornamentals or cut flowers only and use a different bed for vegetables. Others may have differing opinions on the risk, but that is what I would personally do in your situation.

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• WillowBark Posts: 243

  April 2021 edited April 2021

  Also, I am not a scientist or a medical professional, so it may well be that replacing the soil alone wouldn't completely remove the risk, I am not sure. You will have to do your own research into the matter and weigh up the risks for yourself. I personally would not use a bed for vegetables that I knew had been heavily soiled by a cat.

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• Fire Posts: 19,096

  April 2021

  I would put netting over veg beds if there is any risk of cat poo. If it is historic, get rid of the soil and replace. Put flowers in for this year. Net and then densely plant so there is a lower cat risk.
  

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• Annmilway Posts: 3

  April 2021

  Thanks. I do normally always net or fence off the beds in some way to keep the cats out but part of this bed got missed unfortunately. Think I will just grow flowers in it this year to be on the safe side. 

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