What is this?

[Nutty]

We felled a conifer this weekend with a view to planting up the area with wildlife friendly shrubs and plants and found the roots and the surrounding area covered with a sort of stringy fungus. Can anyone identify it and, if so, is it ok to plant up the area or should it be treated before planting?

[tom00_uk]

probably a root symbiotic fungus, ask up in the mycology section as some of them should be able to give you a clearer answer

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by Nutty

We felled a conifer this weekend with a view to planting up the area with wildlife friendly shrubs and plants and found the roots and the surrounding area covered with a sort of stringy fungus. Can anyone identify it and, if so, is it ok to plant up the area or should it be treated before planting?

When you say 'stringy' do you mean the stuff you photographed appeared 'stringy' (in the picture it just looks like an accretionary mass - probably just a mineral accretion around the roots) or were there separate 'boot lace' like rootlets ?

CM

[Nutty]

Thanks for your reply. Yes, there are lacy threads which are like tiny rootlets.

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by Nutty

Thanks for your reply. Yes, there are lacy threads which are like tiny rootlets.

OK have look at the image of Rhizomorphs on this web page = http://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/honey-fungus.html : if that is what you have then honey fungus will have implications for what you can do in terms of future planting - use the WAB search for "honey fungus" to see past discussion about the problems.

However if you don't have the distinct black 'boot lace' structures that are specific to honey fungus but rather you mean by "lacey" the white 'lace like' covering to the concretionary masses you photographed, then while that lacey material may be fungal mycelium, it is unlikely to be anything that will cause problems to future planting.

CM

[King Edward]

If the photo shows a lump of soil covered in white fungus, then to be honest I wouldn't worry about it at all - just go ahead and plant your shrubs etc. as you were planning. I don't think it will cause you any problems.

[Nutty]

Many thanks everyone for your input which has been really helpful. As the conifer was felled because it had outgrown its position and not because it was unhealthy, we are now going to plant up the new bed and keep our fingers crossed.