Mushroom friends value the honey fungus, which often appears en masse on tree stumps in autumn, as a delicacy - even if it is poisonous in its raw state and must therefore be boiled before each use. However, the fungus is a parasite feared by foresters and gardeners, as it quickly kills infested trees and also spreads quickly. Fighting it is difficult.
A tree affected by honey fungus can hardly be saved
Honey fungus affects dead and also living wood
Armillaria mellea or honey fungus is a wood-destroying fungus whose organism living in the soil is made up of individual fungal filaments called hyphae. Honey fungus is mainly found on tree stumps and dead wood, but it also thrives on weakened or stressed wood. Trees suffering from drought, nutrient deficiencies or diseases are particularly vulnerable to infestation. Honey fungus infests almost all tree species, as long as organic material can be broken down there - the parasite feeds on dead, rotting substances.
How to recognize an infestation with honey fungus
Even before the fruiting bodies appear, a number of signs point to an infestation with honey fungus. Initially, the growth of the affected tree slows down considerably, and eventually individual sections of the branch can die off completely. Detachment of the bark is also typical, revealing a white, flat mycelium underneath. Conifers can start to resin in the lower trunk area and at the roots, the needles typically turn brown to brown-red. Infection occurs through spores, spreading root-like, black strands (so-called rhizomorphs) and root contacts, with the honey fungus primarily using injuries as a portal of entry.
Effective control is only possible through clearing
The fungus usually penetrates the root area, from where it works its way up into the bark and into the cambric region and damages the affected tree by disrupting or cutting off the supply channels. Hallimasch cannot be fought directly. The only option is to remove the tree(s) in question from the garden along with their roots. Deadwood infected with honey fungus (e.g. tree stumps left standing) should also be removed to prevent the fungus from spreading and infecting healthy trees. The soil should also be excavated at the infected site and generously replaced with new material.
tips
Before you remove the honey fungus, it is best to harvest its fruiting bodies first. The edible mushroom, which occurs in large numbers, can also be preserved very well by freezing and drying.