Hope this is not honeyfungus....

Sorry but I think it is, and think I may also have some of the same! What do we do to get rid of it? I think old tree stumps are very prone to get this unfortunately.

Oh blast, and grrrrrr! This is a very old conifer tree stump which I'd love to have ground down, but I don't know how expensive it is. There is also only a narrow entrance to the back garden from the front of the house, I don't know how big these grinders are.

Lets see if anyone else replies Weeding.....

sure does look like it sorry to say. I have it and if it is in a localised spot you may get away with digging the stump out etc.

Google RHS and honey fungus and their expert help is there. i found it excellent. they will also have a list of resistant plants etc. over 1/2 of my garden is affected by one of the less nasty species. i think there are 5 different ones.

In nature they help clean up woodland and they are very important in nature. not much help i'm afraid CN.

Damn, certainly looks like it... what a pain Cn.

Nutter, we also have a very narrow entrance to house/garden and I had exactly the same thoughts as you re access and cost.
I don't know much about this fungus, does it spread everywhere, or is it toxic, or kill other plants, or why is it so terrible?
Really curious now!
At least if it's a real villain it'll be in good company with the ground elder, creeping buttercup, dandelions, bindweed etc. Lol.
It's a wonder we find any room for the nicer things that grow out there.

It does spread to other trees and shrubs, so you will have to take action.
Weeding, yes, it KILLS shrubs and trees, so it is not just a villain - it's a murderer... :-(

Oh blast! Really bad news then, d'oh!!! Yikes!!! Ok, my eyes are sore and I'm really tired, shouldn't have come on here before going to bed. Now I'm going to lie awake all night cursing that damn stump. And I've just spent a fortune on new plants. Grrrrrrr!!

Thanks everyone! night night...... (sobs!)

Night night - sorry about your nasty fungus. :-( Here, have a tissue...

It could be a Stump Brittlestem Species of Psathyrella. In which case you can relax. To test if it is the dreaded Honey Fungus.. See if there are black strap like pieces running round and about the stump ?

not all have the bootlaces though. the one i have hasnt. peel the bark back if there is a layer of white mould and a strong smell of mushrooms it is hf. the one i have only finishes off old/dying/diseased plants. it doesnt do anything to healthy stock.[so the RHS expert told me]

so take hope from that craftnutter.

Thanks Sh! sniffle!!!

Poaannua, no, there are no black strap like pieces as you described.

Sbg, there doesn't appear to be any white mould either, so it could be that I'm lucky! Thank goodness yours only finishes off old stock.

I've written a blog on this for others to have a look more closely at my fungus in case they have the same.

Weeding, have a closer look at yours, I do hope it's not the worst sort! Good luck, let us know!

www.fungi4schools.org had a picture of the brittlestem and I pray it is that. How very clever of you to know that Poannua! Fingers crossed!

Another way to help identify is the size of the cap Armillaria (Honey Fungus) is listed as 3 to 12 cms diameter Psathyrella 1 to 3 cms. I quote from Mushrooms by Roger Phillips.. I do hope it is this virtually harmless one..

as HF ages it looks 'wet' and the edges of the caps turn out and upwards. is this a photo of it now or did you take it in the autumn? I've never seen HF toadstools as early as this - mid/late summer on but especially sept onwards.

Poaannua, these are quite small. I'm convinced now not only did I not have h/f but they are also Psathyrella that you identified, thanks soooo much!!

Sbg, these pics were taken yesterday and the day before. Early I know! Toto's last 2 photo's show clearly that my fungus is not h/f, so I can sleep at night now! Phew!

Again, thanks to you all sooooo much, luv ya loads! Mwah! xoxoxo

What a relief! Great news.... hugs - xxx.

I'll put the tissues away, now.

Heehee, thanks Sh!!! Phew! xoxoxo

lucky girl lets hope it remains that way. I'll go back to my diseased area and cry quietly sob sob sob :o(((

Oh Sbg, here, have Spritz's tissues....

When my plants get bigger, I'll send you some. Even if they die after a while, at least you'd have had them a while.....

Have you put thick black butyl lining on the diseased area?

but pleeeeeeeeease what does it do tha's so baaaaaaad?!

oops, just read Spritz's comment. All I have round ours at the moment is dodgy "lawn" and too many weeds, so do I say do your worst, you ****** fungus, or should I act like a grownup for a change?

NOooooooo. Why should you? lol.

the area is too big to put a membrane down and to be honest I cant be bothered I just have to be more selcetive in what i grow. There are some other healthy trees in the same place so its not all bad. :o)

Lol Weeding!

Poor Sbg, still, as you say, somethings are better than nothing. It is a widespread disease apparantly, so I imagine there are lots of other frustrated gardeners out there. :-(