Honey fungus
Disease A root fungus that kills trees, shrubs and fruit bushes.
What to look for
Sudden dieback or death of a tree or bush, with white fungus under the bark at the base and black "bootlace" threads in the soil. Honey-coloured toadstools appear in autumn.
When: Symptoms show from spring to autumn, with toadstools in autumn.
How to prevent it
- Remove dead stumps and roots from the garden.
- Install a barrier of thick plastic sheet buried 45 cm deep to stop threads spreading from neighbouring infected areas.
- Choose more resistant plants, such as yew and some fruit species.
How to deal with it
- There is no chemical cure, so dig out the infected plant and as many roots as possible, and bin them.
- Replant with resistant species after a year or more.
Crops it affects
If you choose to use any treatment, use only products approved for UK home gardens, follow the label and avoid spraying open flowers. See all pests and diseases.