I have white, ash-like lumps in one area of a bed with a history of honey fungus. What is it, please

Posts

• GardenerSuze Posts: 5,692

  6 January edited 6 January

  @claire_m_white18807 Have you added bagged compost to the area or from pots? You can get this and it is harmless fungus in the compost.
  Honey fungus is difficult to detect are your trees and shrubs healthy? Welcome.

  I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.

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• bédé Posts: 3,095

  6 January

  Not honey fungus (that I find easy to detect).
  
  Probably fruiting fungus bodies on some lumpy stuff.

   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."

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• claire_m_white18807 Posts: 2

  7 January

  Thank you! There are no trees or shrubs in the bed - the honey fungus killed them. It was around 3 years ago now. That area has had the white ash-like lumps since around that time. Glad it doesn’t appear to be honey fungus, at least! I put both compost from my heap and manure on the bed.

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• GardenerSuze Posts: 5,692

  7 January

  @Bede Could you give a few hints and tips on how to detect Honey Fungus please.
  It is a topic that comes up often on here. I have tried to offer support but what are the warning signs that suggest a problem?
  There are many Honey Coloured Mushrooms and the boot laces are not always easy to detect. Can full and comprehensive advice be given or should it be referred to a qualified professional?

  I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.

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• bédé Posts: 3,095

  8 January

  Suze,  If you don't recognise HF, refer to a qua;ified expert.

   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."

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• Topbird Posts: 8,355

  8 January

  @GardenerSuze - take a look at the RHS site - they have quite a bit of info. First sign of HF is a shrub which suddenly starts looking poorly. Withering or no leaves on a few branches, and other leaves often a bit smaller / yellower than usual. May take a couple of seasons to recognise this. The effected branch(es) usually die and then others start to show the same symptoms until the whole shrub is gone.
  
  The most reliable indicator is white mycelium just under the bark at ground level. RHS recommends scraping a little bark back just above the roots to check. Usually smells quite strongly of mushrooms.
  
  Think one of my large viburnums may have it now😢

  Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  

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• GardenerSuze Posts: 5,692

  8 January

  @Topbird I have always found it a difficult subject to understamd and my knowledge is limited. I think you may get the symtoms you describe from a shrub or tree that has just rotted and died due to other fungal infections? However finding something like this is a is a good reason to be vigilant. Thankyou Suze.

  I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.

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• Topbird Posts: 8,355

  8 January edited 8 January

  @GardenerSuze - I've never had a definitive diagnosis of HF in my garden - but I have lost several shrubs and I'm 90% sure it's down to HF. They were all between 6 and 10 years old, all showed the symptoms I described and they were all highly vulnerable to HF. Have never seen fruiting bodies or bootlaces but that might be because I removed the shrubs and roots as soon asI realised what was probably happening.
  
  I planted this garden almost from scratch starting 14 years ago. When we first moved in we had some poorly looking trees removed which, with hindsight, may have been affected. If I'd realised I wouldn't have planted quite so many viburnums....

  Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  

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• GardenerSuze Posts: 5,692

  8 January edited 8 January

  @Topbird I have never worked in a garden with honey fungus. The mushrooms are  short lived and with many honey coloured ones it doesn't help.  I have just found out sometimes they don't always appear in the Autumn although there is honey fungus in the soil. I have seen the bootlaces along time ago pointed out by another gardener. Viburnums are so diverse not to have them would be a big concern. 

  I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.

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• Simone_in_Wiltshire Posts: 1,073

  11 January

  @claire_m_white18807 I'm seeing a wood stem in your picture, which would explain why you found the white mould in that corner. Mould is the beginning of a decay process started by fungi.
  I recently watched a programme about fungi and learned that the fungi system plays an important if not crucial part in soil. Decay is not less important and something only rots if there is mould that starts the rotting process. The rotting process releases the nutrients to the soil and this thrives in particular wood to be healthy.
  Reading in Wikipedia that honey fungus mushrooms are eaten in some countries, it can't be that bad. 
  Maybe we should consider a garden with a fungi network as healthy rather than as a problem. But I'm no expert. Just my thoughts.

  I ♥ my garden.

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