fungus on buried tree stump - Ask Extension
I have a fungus growing up from a tree stump which is about 2 feet below the ground. It was a white oak taken down 6 years ago. For the last 3 years ...
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fungus on buried tree stump #280623
Asked September 25, 2015, 12:17 PM EDT
I have a fungus growing up from a tree stump which is about 2 feet below the ground. It was a white oak taken down 6 years ago. For the last 3 years a huge yellow fungus has grown up extending several inches above surrounding pachysandra. This year it is about two feet around with many wavy plates extending out from a center. I have cut it out for the past 3 years and poured a fungicide down in the ground but it still comes up each year .
Any suggestions other than digging up the whole area and treating the problem at the stump source?
Baltimore County Maryland
Expert Response
There is no need to treat the fungus that emanates from the dead tree stump/roots. What you see is the fruiting body of a much, much larger fungal organism that is actively decomposing all of that carbonaceous stump and root material below ground. It is not harmful, although you should not ingest any of it. If you find the shelf fungus to be unattractive, simply cut it out. It may take a few years for all of that underground material to be fully decomposed. You may also be seeing mushrooms pop up in your lawn.
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