Autumn Mycorrhizal "Decay" Panic ??

[M.D. Vaden]

Seems that as soon as autumn and rain arrives, I see mycorrhizal fungi popping up along the roots of trees.

I can understand how homeowners may become concerned, but this week, I just got called for an estimate and second opinion involving fungi in the lawn. The first opinion was from another local tree service, stating that the tree should be removed because of root-decay.

In examining the site, there was no evidence of root damage, soil fill, construction damage, or other symptoms in the tree - near 100% vigour.

Anyone else come across panic in their area when mycorrizal fungi start pushing their mushroom-heads up? Here's under a fruitless mulberry and a Leyland cypress or redwood (the needles in the image may be it's, or the tree by it).

 

[newbym]

Looks like a good place to pull out the air spade... Clear the roots under the fruiting bodies and you'll be able to show the customer that the roots are actually quite healthy, not to mention be able to explain the symbiotic relationship that the Myc. and tree roots have, helping to make your competition look that much less qualified to do professional work on trees.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Being only a passing mycophage, not a mycologist, I will tell people to bag some samples up and send them into the state lab for analysis. Or I could charge extra to do the same.

If the fruiting bodies are not right on the basal flair I do not recommend removal w/o excavation.

 

[BostonBull]

Are the ones in the second pic flat topped with a white stem?

I just spread some bio-pack over my lawn, and have been watering more frequently the last couple of weeks to help support my overseeding. I have noticed these popping up all over my lawn these past few days.

 

[M.D. Vaden]

Are the ones in the second pic flat topped with a white stem?

I just spread some bio-pack over my lawn, and have been watering more frequently the last couple of weeks to help support my overseeding. I have noticed these popping up all over my lawn these past few days.

I'm not sure. Those are from a year ago. Might have started as white buttons like the smaller ones, and darkened. Seems they started with white stems.

We have an amusing lawn this year.

I spread a ton of tree chips on our rocky soil as mulch, a year and a half ago. Instead of removing it, since it's packed now, I spread a soil / compost mix over it a couple of inches deep, and layed sod over that.

There is the biggest assortment of mushrooms growing the past month.

Nothing extreme, and its actually fun to see what comes up.

 

[treeseer]

If the fruiting bodies are not right on the basal flair I do not recommend removal w/o excavation.

And if they are on the flare, what do you recommend?
:monkey:

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

And if they are on the flare, what do you recommend?
:monkey:

Invasive examination. If it is miatake I will recommend lunch.