Garden Fungus

[drylandsailor]

I have what I think is a fungus in my garden, but I am not sure, (see photos). If it is a fungus, what can I do about it please?

[fairplay]

Welcome to WAB, Drylandsailor,

It is definitely fungal and spreading, seeking out dead organic matter I'd imagine. If it is going to kill your plant, it is too late now, the damage is done.

But if you are lucky, it is only feeding on the already dead vegetation and will leave live tissue alone.

I would do nothing, and just see if the plant survives next year - there is a good chance it will. Ignore the often repeated calls for you to burn all diseased material. It is not a virus or bacteria, just an unknown fungus, probably 'eating' dead organic matter.

Neil.

[drylandsailor]

Originally Posted by fairplay

Welcome to WAB, Drylandsailor,

It is definitely fungal and spreading, seeking out dead organic matter I'd imagine. If it is going to kill your plant, it is too late now, the damage is done.

But if you are lucky, it is only feeding on the already dead vegetation and will leave live tissue alone.

I would do nothing, and just see if the plant survives next year - there is a good chance it will. Ignore the often repeated calls for you to burn all diseased material. It is not a virus or bacteria, just an unknown fungus, probably 'eating' dead organic matter.

Neil.

Thank you for the advice. Will this go away during the winter, or should I keep a look-out for it next spring? If it comes back, what should I do?
Peter
(drylandsailor)

[fairplay]

Assuming you first noticed it recently, that would seem to indicate this is a fungus that 'fruits' in the normal October/November period, so therefore I doubt it will appear in Spring - rather, next year, same month.

There is no proof as of yet, that it is harming anything, but to avoid it re-occurring next year, remove vegetation as soon as it dies off, and regularly cultivate the surrounding soil.

I do not have a clue what the fungus is, but the betting is that it is merely feeding on dead organic matter, thus returning nutrients to the soil and making it available for other plants to take up, so most likely beneficial, rather than detrimental.

But, if Im wrong, and it turns out to be parasitic, it is probably too late for the plant it seems to be growing on, but as a gardener also, I would just leave it and see what happens next spring, when I am sure that plant will grow as normal.

Neil.

[drylandsailor]

Many thanks, fairplay, lets just hope.

regards
Peter