Mushrooms on Tree roots
aspp
10 years ago
I have a VERY large white oak located right at my front door that has mushrooms growing at the base, and around the base. I had heard this may be an indicator of poor tree health, so am hoping someone can advise - picture attached.
Because of the proximity to my house I have been careful about monitoring, but most of the tree services around here are more interested in cutting than diagnosing. There has been no recent damage to the tree. Thoughts?
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years agoRelated Discussions
Mushroom root rot experiences
Comments (10)My experience with this has been BAD. On two separate occasions we have had mature tree's removed and the fungus (armillaria) colonize the root systems which were not completely removed. Trees planted within 20 feet of the removed stumps (ground to 12" below grade) grew fine for 2-3 years and then died suddenly. Plants which grow in clumps rather than a single stem are OK and persist. After 10 years the mushrooms have stopped coming up, so it may have finally retired back to normal background levels. Keys to survival are good drainage and no water next to trunk. Remove as much of any old root systems (larger than pencil thickness) as is possible. Resistant plants are an option. I have lost grapes, nectarine, roses, cherry, crabapple, ceanothus, crape myrtle, arbutus marina... Chad...See MoreMushrooms on tree root
Comments (7)Dang Texas Weed, I live very near you and I have never been lucky enough to find morels or trumpets. Well if you are in the city areas, not likely to find the right conditions. We do not always get them out here as it takes a wet and cool spring or fall season. Around here they are found around dying Elm, Ash, and Sycamore trees with a lot of ground liter cover. Not a condition you will likely find in the metro areas. I also hear you can find them around dying apple trees and some ferns....See Moredoes mushrooms on roots mean a tree is dying?
Comments (8)Lots of very good questions. The mushrooms seem to be growing out of the roots to me. These mushrooms don't seem to have stems. Some are growing in the leaf mulch but I had assumed the roots were right under them. There are 25 or so mushrooms only on one side of the tree. I have never seen them before this year. We also have not had so much rain as this though. It rained 13 inches in June alone. We do not mow around this tree since no grass grows there, It is too shady. It is surrounded on two sides by a privacy fence, and one side by the house. It is in the side yard. One fence is our backyard fence and the other is the neighbor's side fence. When we have a bit of sun, some of these mushrooms tend to dry up or rot. We are in suburb land so I have not seen any rouge cows trampling my tree. One of the mushrooms is about 6 inches from the trunk, and the furthest one out is about 10 feet out. Not sure about the wound question. It does not appear so, but it could be that they are damaged. Many of the roots seem to be growing on the surface. The roots tend to criss cross each other. Yes this tree has been pruned. Its branches get stuck on the side of the house or fence, so some of the lower branches have been removed. Maybe 10-15 feet up. I see no seepage of any kind. This is our largest tree. Its spread is about 20-25 feet. I do not see bugs either. We have clay soil but under this tree it is as if either all the clay has been washed away, due to no plants growing under the tree to hold the soil, or the tree is using up all the hummus to survive. The soil is dry and sandy. Some of the leaves appear a little dried up around the edges, but seems worse on the side with the mushrooms. The tree has this very large gurdling root what goes halfway around the tree. It may be strangling the tree. The mushrooms are growing where there is more sun, and an the opposite side of the gurdling root. The arborist, that cut down a cotton wood tree for us, said that the root should have been clipped off when it was planted. He says this happens at the nursery. The tree's roots get pot bound and start to circle around the pot. He said this root would one day kill the tree. As a side note, he said all our trees looked like telephone poles, meaning they all were planted too deep. There is little to no flare to any of our tree trunks. I know they are not growing as fast and healthy as they should but, I would hate to chop them down, just because one day they may die due to lack of oxygen. This rainy year is testing their ability to survive with limited oxygen. On the leaves that are brown, there is this white substance. I would think from the looks of it, a bug or bacteria or something is making the leave dry up. Most of the trees leaves look fine though. Maybe the tree is stressed from all this rain we have been having? I guess it is silly of me to think without seeing the tree or a picture of it, anyone could figure out what is happening. By the time I took a picture of the tree, and got the pictures developed, and figure out out how to scan the picture, the tree might already be dead. Thanks for any help you can give me....See Morehelp identify mushroom around declining tree
Comments (17)As to liability, it seems that if you never notify your neighbor about their dangerous situation, they will get away free if something bad happens. But if they are on notice but choose to do nothing, they may well be responsible legally. There is a difference between a healthy tree that you dislike, or a dying/dead tree or limb a normal person/arborist can see it causes possible damage. SO if you have doubt, send written notice, put it on paper trail. Your home insurance/attorney will need that in case of unfortunate. reference from attorney website https://www.lvglawfirm.com/legal-liability-for-tree-damage-in-maryland-virginia-and-dc/ http://www.mcmillanmetro.com/articles/encroaching-branches-or-falling-trees-rights-and-liabilities-of-property-ow...See Moreaspp
10 years agoThanks for the responses ��" much appreciated. Attached is a photo taken a bit further out, and I'll attach another one in the morning when it's light out. It's a magnificent tree, about eight stories, and I need to protect it.
wisconsitom
10 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years agokrnuttle
10 years agoToronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
10 years agoEmbothrium
10 years ago
bengz6westmd
10 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years agoToronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
10 years agoaspp
10 years agoEmbothrium
10 years agoaspp
10 years agobengz6westmd
10 years ago
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