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Nasty fungus

Last post 02-08-2012 1:30 PM by madmuncher. 3 replies.

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  • 01/08/2012 08:21 AM
    • porry
    • 15 Aug 2011
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    I chopped down a laurel hedge and the stumps remain. The stumps are now surrounded by a nasty black growth which I assume is some kind of fungus. I want to turf around the stumps and am worried this fungus will at best prevent the turf from taking and at worst kill it. What can I use to destroy the fungus without endangering the turf I am aout to lay? Many thanks for your suggestions.
  • 01/08/2012 09:03 AM
    In reply to
    • madmuncher
    • Nottinghamshire
    • 20 Mar 2010
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    I suspect that fungus is just purely there for trying to digest the stump away..I've never had any problems with turf and tree stumps 'aftergrowth'. Most fungal growths are specific to the food source so they don't tend to be able to feed wood and turf.

    I deal with stumps and lawns in my work daily and I would say you are quite safe to turf around the stumps. Only time there has been issue with turfing near stumps is when there is lot of big roots left behind and those are starting collapse..but usually that happens couple of years afterwards...the surface become very uneven and some turf may dry out for loosing their 'footing' undernearth..and yes..you do get mushrooms popping up through lawn, those are from fungus that is 'eating' the roots away. It might look unsightly for time being but don't do otherwise harm. 

    So shortly..I would carry on turfing and let nature deal with the stump..there should not be problem either way. The fungus is there to do a 'job' for you.
  • 01/08/2012 07:26 PM
    In reply to
    • porry
    • 15 Aug 2011
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    Thank you. I will curb my instinct to blitz the nasty stuff with something hugely toxic, then, and hope nature will take its course. It isn't anything resembling a mushroom, such as you see sometimes growing sideways off a tree trunk. More like a collection of slimy black blisters. 
  • 02/08/2012 01:30 PM
    In reply to
    • madmuncher
    • Nottinghamshire
    • 20 Mar 2010
    • 140
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    Yes..that 'slimy black blisters' is fine..don't worry about it.....AND..you will get the 'proper' mushrooms to follow..not perharps this year yet but propably next year.