Fungas??

Last post 18-11-2011 10:56 AM by DavidH. 11 replies.

• 12/11/2011 05:29 PM

  DavidH Location: Aldershot Joined on: 11 Nov 2011 Posts: 5

  Reply | Contact I had a Privet hedge at the bottom of my garden, possibly 80 years old. Three years ago the leaves on one of the bushes turned first yellow then died it was soon obvoius the whole bush was dead. It then started spreading and by last year one third of it was dead and a Buddleia next to the hedge first started drooping and then died. This year with half the hedge now dead I decided to remove it. Around the roots was a white powder, no sign of anything moving, this was amongst the roots for its full length 6m. I decided to sow grass seed as this didn't seem to be affected, this was planted in September and grew well but now circles of white 'fluffy' substance have appeared killing the grass. Is it fungi? What can I do about it?  Also this year about 20m away ,nearer the house, a Kiwi Fruit which had been established for about twelve years came into leaf then flower buds appeared closely followed by droopy leaves and then that died. I am now afraid other plants/shrubs could go the same way. Any advice or remedies would be appreciated.

• 12/11/2011 06:14 PM	In reply to
  Susiq Location: Northumberland Joined on: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 3,125	Reply | Contact Hi DavidH, sorry about the loss of your shrubbery and plants. You don't mention much about your location, are you near fields that may be sprayed, or has anything changed in your immediate environment that may have impacted your soil?

• 12/11/2011 11:41 PM	In reply to
  DavidH Location: Aldershot Joined on: 11 Nov 2011 Posts: 5	Reply | Contact I live in Aldershot, Hampshire. The other side of the fence at the bottom of the garden is a school playing field, I doubt if that has been sprayed with anything. New drainage pipes were installed in the field 4/5 years ago. The garden slopes uphill from the house and there are natural springs in the hill so any land drainage would run through my garden. I can spell Fungus-typo.

• 13/11/2011 03:42 PM	In reply to
  Julie Location: London Joined on: 28 Apr 2009 Posts: 410	Reply | Contact Could the playing field have been sprayed with weedkiller? Have you asked the school about it? It sounds to be like something is draining downhill in your garden. Could we have a pic of the "fluffy" stuff and the white stuff if you have one? It sounds like maybe you need a professional to test the soil for contaminents.

• 13/11/2011 05:01 PM	In reply to
  DavidH Location: Aldershot Joined on: 11 Nov 2011 Posts: 5	Reply | Contact I haven't asked the school but can't imagine it would be sprayed with weedkiller, also their grass isn't dying. New to this forum not sure how to send pictures - working on it.

• 13/11/2011 11:32 PM

  In reply to

  NRB Location: Cambridgeshire Joined on: 23 Jul 2010 Posts: 86

  Reply | Contact A picture would be very helpful. Also, has the weather been unusually wet/dry/hot/cold compared to other seasons? Has the ground been unsually saturated or unusually dry? (we've had the worst drought in a generation). Has the fertility or pH of the soil changed in some way? Has it been manured/composted/fertilised differently to how it was a few years ago? In recent years, we've had an outbreak of the "fairy ring" fungus which has taken the opportunity to prey on drought-stressed plants (we've had some of the worst droughts in living memory). The fairy ring-like fungus seems to leave white ash-like and sandy-brown matted-fabric-like deposits among the roots, which are water-repellent and have a strong metallic smell. I have been reducing its severity and gradually driving it out by using numerous light sprinklings of manure, compost, fertiliser and supplemental watering. I can't say that I've noticed white "fluffy" growths out of the ground, but it does produce clusters of smallish mushrooms shortly after a dead patch has formed.

• 13/11/2011 11:39 PM

  In reply to

  Location: Joined on: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 2,376

  Reply | Contact Hi DavidH. This certainly appears to be a Sherlock Holmes mystery.  I don't think that a picture of the white stuff etc, would be of much help to some of us.  You have given quite a good detailed outline of the area, progress etc.  Sadly also, the final death knell of your shrubs.  The privet [Ligustrum] hedge estimated as some 80 yrs old.  Generally speaking.  Ligustrum is as hard and long suffering as Methuselah.  If any thing, Ligustum can at times be blamed for the demise of closely planted other specimens.  It contains various acids and other chemicals that can be used as herbicides etc, and pesticides.  Notice that very few bugs etc, live on the privet hedge.  Offending subtance,=powdery, fluffy.  Time lapse during which other shrubs have fallen foul of the problem.  Then the distance seperating affected specimens. David, Aldershot.  Military area.  My original studies etc in science and practice of turf culture etc, which delved below ground level.  I have to admit.  This has got me bogged down.  OK the hedge is considered to be many years old.  How long has your house stood on that site?  Truthfully.  This is a total stab in the dark. I do most honestly hope that my assumption is WRONG.  For some reason, all my faculties, suggest something toxic in the soil rather than a form of fungi.  Fungi, once having established itself, moreoften than not, increases at an alarming rate, due mainly to 'spores'.  Your garden enemy, seems to be taking it's time at penetrating your garden.  From experience.  Years ago the local chemist/pharmacist would do a quick test on soil or other samples.  Take a few samples of the questionable substance, and get it to an analytical chemist.  If you are a member of the RHS.  Pop it along to Wisley.  Might not cost you anything.  Like I say/imply.  To me it sounds too much like a toxic whatever.  Not some drainage from the playing fields etc, but something that over time has leaked, from within the ground.  Sometimes, gas leakage under ground has caused drastic effects, especially in cases of the London Plane Tree. Please keep us all informed.  As I say.  I do hope that I am WRONG.   Best wishes. Mike.

• 14/11/2011 12:37 AM

  In reply to

  DavidH Location: Aldershot Joined on: 11 Nov 2011 Posts: 5

  Reply | Contact The house was built in 1930, one of the last to be built in this road. Prior to this the land was part of the grounds of a large  house where the school is now. When I moved to the house about 30 years ago the hedge was about 3 metres high and about nearly 2 metres deep so I assume it had been there some time.  Although we have had drought periods since I have been here if the hedge is as old the house it has probably survived several periods of drought but the addition of drainage pipes in the playing field, rather than relying on the drainage ditch may have changed the amount of water around the area. I have been told that there are natural springs in the hill above the garden and before the houses were built drainage pipes were laid down to the valley. I had almost dismissed the idea that it was the 'fungus' that killed the hedge and the Buddleia and maybe something toxic had entered the water table further up the hill but I don't know how to test my theory.  When I removed the hedge I removed the worst of the 'fungus' and dug in some organic compost before sowing the grass seed.

• 14/11/2011 05:35 PM

  In reply to

  Snark Location: Suffolk Joined on: 12 Jan 2011 Posts: 265

  Reply | Contact I would go with the fungus. We have several interesting fungal problems -honey fungus, phythoptera an unidentified white fungal mycelium which spreads through dry soil and gives it a waxy quality which makes it even dryer and can kill plants growing in it.All these come and go causing problems for a few years then vanishing and popping up elsewhere. This year's plant stressing weather has given us a burst of honey fungus deaths in well established plants and a big philadelphus -at least 25 years old has died of the white waxy fungus. At first I used to think that the entire garden would be wiped. Now I just dig stuff up and carry on. For the Snark was a boojum you see

• 17/11/2011 02:14 PM	In reply to
  HantsDave Location: Petersfield, UK Joined on: 17 Nov 2011 Posts: 1	Reply | Contact We have what I think is phytomyces nitens in our lawn under the bird feeders. It comes up every autumn. How can we get rid of it and stop it coming up every year? Tried to insert a photo but can't see how to do it!

• 17/11/2011 09:05 PM	In reply to
  NRB Location: Cambridgeshire Joined on: 23 Jul 2010 Posts: 86	Reply | Contact HantsDave The fungus is probably feeding on bird poo. When I have been manuring my soil, I soon see all kinds of interesting fungi popping up. When I used to keep birds of various kinds, sometimes their poo would go furry with fine mould. In fact, I saw a furry dog poo while out for a walk today. Try moving the bird table for a couple of seasons.

• 18/11/2011 10:56 AM

  In reply to

  DavidH Location: Aldershot Joined on: 11 Nov 2011 Posts: 5

  Reply | Contact Back to my hedge etc. Having read through the posts again I'm not sure it is drought related as it started one end of the hedge and over three years had travelled to half it's length. If exceptionally dry I would have thought the whole hedge would have been affected at the same time. Mike Allen suggested something toxic and was it ex-military land? There is a school but that has only been there since the late 50's early 60's. I suppose something military could have been there during the war and the drainage work four/five years ago disturbed something buried there but I'm not sure where to start investigating this. If it is fungus not sure what I can do I have watered the area with the only fugicide that seems to be available these days.  It will probably next spring before I can see if it has spread anywhere else. My neighbours have not been affected but they have all got large sheds against the playing field fence.