Is this fungus a real problem?

[Warbaby]

Can anyone tell me what this is? Is this a dreadful problem? It surrounds this small tree (possibly Picea?) each year in September. The tree is in an ornamental gravel garden, and there is good weed-supressing membrane underneath the gravel. The circle of fungus is wider each year.

[roseyweb]

If that spruce came over the consequence's could be fatal

[Frankie Lawrence]

If that spruce came over the consequence's could be fatal

 

PAHAHAHHA:lol: tea all over the computer

[Big 'Ammer]

If that spruce came over the consequence's could be fatal

 

Guffaw!!! :lol:

 

Nice one!

[Paul Barton]

I can't tell what that fungus is from the photos. Could you take some more pics showing the stalks and undersides of the caps?

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Paul, give it a rest mate:001_tt2:, their in a ring, on one of the healthiest firs ive ever seen.

 

They is mycorrihzaes!

Edited September 26, 2010 by Tony Croft aka hamadryad

[Warbaby]

Since I am a total amateur, I find that most of you lot are making fun of me. I am not amused. I wanted an honest answer to what, to me, was an honest question. I am not an expert - and by joining what looked, to me, an expert website, I honestly thought that I would be taken seriously, and honest, helpful answers would be given.

It seems that you are just intent on "putting me down", which I find very hurtful and not at all helpful. These mushrooms are very unsightly in this garden, and the Owner very much needs to know if they are indeed harmful in any way. A simple, truthful, and not mocking reply was all that I wanted. Is that impossible?

[Giles Hill]

Hamadryad has given you the answer.

 

You will have to forgive the other comments but I don't imagine they were intended to be personal. To put things in context, most of the regular posters on this forum are arborists and to them a fungus is only a problem if it is associated with a hazard - i.e. a risk of injury or damage to property.

 

The fungi in your picture are not threatening your client's plants, they are just nature making an appearance in a fairly sterile environment.

 

Basically, if you have soil, then you are likely to have fungi present. The majority of the fungal organism is hidden and you only become aware of them when they form fruiting bodies - 'toad-stalls' in this case. The toad-stalls are only temporary, they come out when the weather conditions are suitable, the bit below the ground - the mycelium is permanent.

 

I'd advise tour client that the fungi are not harmful, if anything they are likely to be beneficial to the plants (look up 'mycorrizal fungi') there is not a great deal that can be done without making the whole area sterile, for example by concreting it over. You can remove the fruit-bodies as they appear, if they are considered unsightly.

[RobRainford]

If that spruce came over the consequence's could be fatal

 

 

Its a nordman fir, not a spruce

 

Abies nordmanniana

 

We sell thousands each year!

 

We do have a couple in our garden which are a lot bigger than this and see these fungi 10ft away! So i would agree they are mycorrizal, as none of the other trees in the immediate area are showing any negative signs.

[Giles Hill]

Its a nordman fir, not a spruce

 

Abies nordmanniana

 

 

In that case the real problem will be the lack of space.