I had to remove a long bank of shrubs that had become affected by honey fungus, though none had yet died. I dug out all the roots I could find, never found any bootlaces but there were plenty of fruiting bodies and sheets of mycelium under the bark that left no doubt of the culprit.
An old ash tree had been on the site before we moved in and the decaying remains had been removed nearly 30 years ago, but the roots were left underground, being too large to remove. Since then only 2 shrubs had died, a long time apart and I suspected HF was present but had no reason to act until it became very apparent in a number of the shrubs.
I have replanted with hardy perennials and the area is much more attractive and interesting than it was before. I won't go back to the shrubs, even when a quarantine period has elapsed, as I like it better now! It is a shame about your apple tree, but maybe you could grow another, with a suitable rootstock, in a large pot and still have the pleasure of blossom and fruit.
The photos you included are all an Armillaria species aka Honey Fungus. It spreads by spores, and underground runners known as rhizomes which seek out and destroy living trees, and some other plants including rhubarb, and it will feed off dead wood too. This might be of interest:
I wasn't aware it attacked shrubs, as I normally see it on trees and tree roots. I suppose it will feed, then die once the food has gone. So plant resistant shrubs and trees perhaps?
It seems like this Fungus-Lover have found a nice place pull a prank.
But, with all respect to mshcah, I do find so things he/she is pointing out quiet interesting.
As I am not a biologist or mycologist I cannot say something for sure, but the ability of fungi to respond to natural disasters and sudden changes in the environment says something about their inherent intelligence. Mycelium seems to be Earths natural internet. The HF is in fact one of the largest living organisms in the world. And if (although it’s not possible) we were to execute HF completely, it may have fatal consequenses for the ecosystem. These things are yet beyond our understanding.
I do understand that people want to have beautiful gardens; but if we were to look at this as a whole, FungusLover may have a point by stating that this fungus is a part of the ecosystem and we should be careful with trying to destroy it.
The argument about the rainforest is probably to go too far, but as we all know human cultivation does not have very positive impact on the ecosystem. Our gardens is probably good in urban landscapes, but over all it is in the opposite direction of wildlife (which may be the balance the nature is seeking).
As you all are familiar with, HS is a very effective decomposer. And even saprophytic and parasitic fungi as HS help create the organic components of topsoil, of course in alliance with myriad numbers of bacteria, insects, and other organisms.
I believe a HF in America is the largest known organism. HF, like many fungi species, decompose woody matter, to create or enrich soil. This process is essential, otherwise we'd be inundated with dead wood. But we don't need HF in our garden. Most garden fungi are beneficial, and beautiful to look at. But HF should be controlled, it belongs in woods not gardens. I had some beautiful Hygrocybe conica on my lawn this year. And some St. George's Mushroom out front in spring.
The Honey Fungus are infecting our gardens in unwanted ways. It can prevent our crops to grow, resulting in loss of money and time spent, and over all disturb our garden. But this is all relating to us humans and our wants and needs.
You say that HF should be controlled and that it belongs the woods and not our gardens. But then we can think further – there was forest all over before and our planet dont need our gardens and cultivation either. As I said, It's probably trying to rebalance it.
I hope this is not to inappropriate to mention here, and I really don't mean to offend.
David58 - I see you've changed your name from Armillaria.
Most of the recent advice on this forum is to learn to live with honey fungus and not to use chemicals. Thre are many plants which are resistant to it - listed here are susceptible and resistent plants https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/pdfs/honey-fungus-host-list .
Unfortunately over the past twenty-four hours there have appeared some posters who are intent on trying to cause upset on this forum by flaming/trolling and posting under several identities.
Just like fungi - they all appear at once and they all seem to have the same idiosyncratic use of English grammar
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Posts
Christopher Lloyd said he'd never known any monocot get HF. So if you want something woody there's bamboo. But that might bring its own problems.
I lost 2 viticella clematis (maybe HF) but a seedling has grown to replace them and is still doing fine after 5 years.
In the sticks near Peterborough
On the plus side, I see that forsythia is susceptible
I had to remove a long bank of shrubs that had become affected by honey fungus, though none had yet died. I dug out all the roots I could find, never found any bootlaces but there were plenty of fruiting bodies and sheets of mycelium under the bark that left no doubt of the culprit.
An old ash tree had been on the site before we moved in and the decaying remains had been removed nearly 30 years ago, but the roots were left underground, being too large to remove. Since then only 2 shrubs had died, a long time apart and I suspected HF was present but had no reason to act until it became very apparent in a number of the shrubs.
I have replanted with hardy perennials and the area is much more attractive and interesting than it was before. I won't go back to the shrubs, even when a quarantine period has elapsed, as I like it better now! It is a shame about your apple tree, but maybe you could grow another, with a suitable rootstock, in a large pot and still have the pleasure of blossom and fruit.
Mshcah.
Forgive my lack of manners : Welcome to the forum.
MOST are lovely, some , it seems , are not.
The photos you included are all an Armillaria species aka Honey Fungus. It spreads by spores, and underground runners known as rhizomes which seek out and destroy living trees, and some other plants including rhubarb, and it will feed off dead wood too. This might be of interest:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/pdfs/honey-fungus-host-list
I wasn't aware it attacked shrubs, as I normally see it on trees and tree roots. I suppose it will feed, then die once the food has gone. So plant resistant shrubs and trees perhaps?
Oh and ignore FungusLover, he/she/it/they are trolling i.e. causing mischief.
It seems like this Fungus-Lover have found a nice place pull a prank.
But, with all respect to mshcah, I do find so things he/she is pointing out quiet interesting.
As I am not a biologist or mycologist I cannot say something for sure, but the ability of fungi to respond to natural disasters and sudden changes in the environment says something about their inherent intelligence. Mycelium seems to be Earths natural internet. The HF is in fact one of the largest living organisms in the world. And if (although it’s not possible) we were to execute HF completely, it may have fatal consequenses for the ecosystem. These things are yet beyond our understanding.
I do understand that people want to have beautiful gardens; but if we were to look at this as a whole, FungusLover may have a point by stating that this fungus is a part of the ecosystem and we should be careful with trying to destroy it.
The argument about the rainforest is probably to go too far, but as we all know human cultivation does not have very positive impact on the ecosystem. Our gardens is probably good in urban landscapes, but over all it is in the opposite direction of wildlife (which may be the balance the nature is seeking).
As you all are familiar with, HS is a very effective decomposer. And even saprophytic and parasitic fungi as HS help create the organic components of topsoil, of course in alliance with myriad numbers of bacteria, insects, and other organisms.
Again, with all respect.
I believe a HF in America is the largest known organism. HF, like many fungi species, decompose woody matter, to create or enrich soil. This process is essential, otherwise we'd be inundated with dead wood. But we don't need HF in our garden. Most garden fungi are beneficial, and beautiful to look at. But HF should be controlled, it belongs in woods not gardens. I had some beautiful Hygrocybe conica on my lawn this year. And some St. George's Mushroom out front in spring.
I understand what you say.
The Honey Fungus are infecting our gardens in unwanted ways. It can prevent our crops to grow, resulting in loss of money and time spent, and over all disturb our garden. But this is all relating to us humans and our wants and needs.
You say that HF should be controlled and that it belongs the woods and not our gardens. But then we can think further – there was forest all over before and our planet dont need our gardens and cultivation either. As I said, It's probably trying to rebalance it.
I hope this is not to inappropriate to mention here, and I really don't mean to offend.
David58 - I see you've changed your name from Armillaria.
Most of the recent advice on this forum is to learn to live with honey fungus and not to use chemicals. Thre are many plants which are resistant to it - listed here are susceptible and resistent plants https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/pdfs/honey-fungus-host-list .
Unfortunately over the past twenty-four hours there have appeared some posters who are intent on trying to cause upset on this forum by flaming/trolling and posting under several identities.
Just like fungi - they all appear at once and they all seem to have the same idiosyncratic use of English grammar
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.