What to do if your garden has Honey Fungus

[Jez]

Originally Posted by fairplay

End result: 6 dead trees 7+ dead shrubs and the owners fall out with me for 'not looking after the garden'.

That's sad that you copped it, when after all you did for them

Originally Posted by fairplay

It would be very expensive to prove as the grower would fight it tooth and nail.
I know of only one part successful case, and that was of a chap who sued the council, it dragged on and on, but the chap was determined and the council settled out of court without admitting responsibility. (It spread from their infested land into his garden)

Neil.

& yep I can see where you coming from

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Petalouthi

I hope you don't mind me joining in this discussion, which I've been following with interest.
These appeared in my sister-in law's garden in October:




And a few days later:


Although it appears to be growing on grass, there had been a tree there, and no doubt still roots left underground. There was a similar patch under trees in the part of the garden beyond the gate. I thought it was armillaria sp. - honey fungus, of some kind.

First, is the id correct?

And, should I be alerting them to the problems you outline above, and possible actions to take?

thanks
Di

Hi Petalouthi, not at all, looks a worse infection! The second photo looks like that of the fungus I first noticed! Do as Fairplay suggests and see if can find any black rhizomorphs under the soil, perhaps dig a square foot patch by one of the large clumps, then if yes I would alert your sister in law, point her to the links etc and seek professional help unless your confident you could do the work for!? But certainly with the white collar I'd say they are armillaria sp.

Best Of Luck - Jez

[Tormentil]

" What to do if your garden has Honey Fungus"

Move.

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Tormentil

" What to do if your garden has Honey Fungus"

Move.

Lol, I'll suggest it, sure it will go down a treat!

[fairplay]

Originally Posted by Tormentil

" What to do if your garden has Honey Fungus"

Move.

Defeatist !

"We will fight it on the beaches ......... we will never surrender"

I think it needs to be mentioned (again) that not all Honey Fungus is Honey Fungus !?
In the beginning we had Armillaria mellea and because of it's colour it aquired the common name of Honey Fungus, but over time this species has been split up into about 6 separate species, but the name 'Honey Fungus' seems to have stuck with all of them except for A.ectypa - the Marsh Honey Fungus.
Now, with the published list of recommended English names, we have A. gallica - Bulbous Honey Fungus, A.mellea - Honey Fungus, A.ostoyae - Dark Honey Fungus, and A.tabescens - Ringless Honey Fungus.
There is also A.borealis and A.cepistipes, I've no idea if they have been 'given' common names yet. There are yet more species in other country's.

Not all species of Armillaria are pathenogenic, so it is important to correctly identify which type you have before you 'bring in the big boys'. I believe there is only one other species of Armillaria in the UK that is as destructive a A.mellea, but I forget where I read it.

Neil.

[fairplay]

Originally Posted by Petalouthi

I hope you don't mind me joining in this discussion, which I've been following with interest.
These appeared in my sister-in law's garden in October:




And a few days later:


Although it appears to be growing on grass, there had been a tree there, and no doubt still roots left underground. There was a similar patch under trees in the part of the garden beyond the gate. I thought it was armillaria sp. - honey fungus, of some kind.

First, is the id correct?

And, should I be alerting them to the problems you outline above, and possible actions to take?

thanks
Di

Hello Di,
Sorry I haven't replied earlier.
This has to be one of the worst concentrations (or 'best' displays) of Honey Fungus I have ever seen - did your sister get the house at a very good price ? First you tell her what she has (and she has it bad - big time), then you tell her to plant NO trees or shrubs until 3 years after the year Honey Fungus fails to show. So if it does not show in the Autumn next year (it probably will) then wait another 3 years before planting any trees or shrubs
She is doing the right thing by having plants in containers, but it is important they are kept off the ground. Short of digging up the whole garden and removing all the soil down to 1 metre, the only thing to be done here is to let it burn itself out.

Is that Ivy or Holly I can see by the cement bird bath ? If it is Holly, I think this will start to die soon.
All bad news I'm afraid, but it is all natural, try to look upon it as a relic of when our Island was covered in trees and Honey Fungus was carrying on it's own business of recycling trees - it was around then, and will be around for a very long time after the human race becomes extinct.

Neil.

[Petalouthi]

Thanks Neil and Jez for the advice. I will pass the bad news on, and I'm sure they will take the advice on board.

Di