Honey Fungus: How Serious Is It for Garden Trees?

Signs at the base of the tree

Look for honey-coloured mushrooms in clumps around the base in autumn, flat black "bootlace" rhizomorphs under the bark or in the soil, and a creamy-white sheet of fungal growth between bark and wood at ground level. Sudden dieback, undersized leaves or a tree that has stopped putting on growth can all accompany it.

• Fungal fruiting bodies at the base are always worth reporting to a tree surgeon.
• Root decay affects stability, which matters most near buildings, drives and boundaries.
• There is no reliable chemical cure available to homeowners in the UK.

Managing an affected garden

Where removal is necessary, taking out as much of the stump and root material as practical reduces the food source. Replanting choices matter too — some species are notably more susceptible than others. Improving drainage, avoiding compaction and mulching to keep remaining trees vigorous all help, because stressed trees are the ones that succumb first.

How James David Forestry Ltd can help

James David Forestry Ltd works across Liverpool, Merseyside, Wirral, Ormskirk and Lancashire. We assess the actual tree, access and surroundings before recommending work. Clear photographs can be useful for initial guidance, but some questions need a site visit and we will not diagnose a dangerous or diseased tree from website information alone.