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Strange Mushrooms Growing From Felled Willow Root

Willow99Willow99 Posts: 43
in Problem solving
Hi Folks, Could anyone please identify the mushrooms/fungi pictured. Last year I had to have our ancient weeping willow felled and the stump ground due to honey fungus. These mushrooms were growing this week all of  a sudden in bare earth, on investigation they are growing on top of a buried root from the willow. Can anyone say if they are dangerous, I am levelling the ground ready for turf, are they likely to come again through the turf if not removing the root. these images are when I dug them out and threw them in a waste bag.

thank you in advance for any info.


 


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  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited October 2022
    I wouldn't describe fungi as dangerous unless you eat them when you shouldn't. We wouldn't be here without them. An ID won't be easy, there are so many different honey coloured mushrooms which make it difficult. It is a specialist subject but if you have honey fungus I understand your concern.@Uff don't know if you are able to help at all please?
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Fungi don't have roots, they have mycelium, and fungi are more closely related to animals than plants.
    You wont be able to dig out the mycelium as it's like a huge underground web - that is the actual fungus. They can sometimes stretch for miles, so digging out is not an option.
    The toadstools, mushrooms etc we see are just the fruits produced by the mycelium to release spores for the next generation.
    So I'd just go ahead and lay your lawn. They may return now and then when conditions suit them, but usually only last a few days then they're gone.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited October 2022
    They could be quite a nice feature in your lawn for about 2 weeks when they emerge each year.  I get fungi like these that I carefully mow around.  A bit later, I get the red fungus with white spots (fly agaric).  I'll post a pic when and if it fruits this year.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    I would think it is probably honey fungus as you already know it was present on that tree. If the buried root is large then you may have a future problem as it decays and leaves a depression in your new lawn.
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    GardenerSuze said:
    I wouldn't describe fungi as dangerous unless you eat them when you shouldn't. We wouldn't be here without them. An ID won't be easy, there are so many different honey coloured mushrooms which make it difficult. It is a specialist subject but if you have honey fungus I understand your concern.@Uff don't know if you are able to help at all please?
    Thank you @GardenerSuze, I'm flattered that you thought of me. Unfortunately I'm only a beginner and have a lot to learn. If I had as much knowledge of the subject as some on here and in particular steephill I would be a very happy lass. 
    My guess would have been honey fungus because it had been present, it would only have been a guess though. 
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Uff I have always been interested in fungi. As a child I remember collecting some of the fruits and putting them on paper, gills downward to make lovely patterns with the spores.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Willow99Willow99 Posts: 43
    Hi All, these are updated images of the ones that have appeared over the last few days.
    I am going to be laying turf on this area in a couple of days so will carefully be digging them out and disposing of them. I am concerned  whether they will appear again next year through the turf, does anyone have any ideas how to prevent this or any other tips.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited October 2022
    No point in digging them out, just remove them.
    You can't dig out the mycelium as it may well cover your entire garden and possibly stretch for miles.
    They are not roots, but hair-thin structures that grow underground and connect up with other mycelium. The biggest land-living organism on the planet is a mycelium in the USA and it covers several hundred square miles!
    They may pop up in your new lawn - if you don't like the look of them just remove them. There is no more you can do.
    They won't damage your new turfs in any way.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    @Willow99. Scroll back and have a look at Pete’s post. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    Just leave them .Yes they will probably come every year .There is no way to stop it .It’s not a problem just part of nature .Try to ignore it if it offends you .
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