Q.Orangey Yellow Fungus At Roots In My Flower Bed. What Is This And How Do I Get Rid Of It?
No one has been able to help me with this orangey like cottage cheese and yellow junk in my flower bed. All of my flowers, plants have this at the roots. I was told that it is probably a fungus. What can be done to get rid of it?
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
Well, unfortunately, your photo did not come through. There are many fungi that match that description.
Many times, it is a simple slime mold (which is not a fungus, rather, it is its own branch of life.) These are harmless, and are voracious bacteria consumers. They will clean your garden of bacterial issues, fairly quickly.
There are others, though. Some Ganoderma can appear somewhat orange, but if this is a Ganoderma, then your garden is is trouble. Big trouble.
Laetiporus is another possibility, but most species in this genus are very weak parasites, or prefer dead wood.
Tramella can be possible, but is of no concern, here.
There are several club fungi, some harmless, and some highly parasitic.
A picture is worth a thousand words, so without one, this is as close as I can get you.
There are other possibilities, most a little more uncommon, but still present here in the Southeast (fortunately, this is the region of fungi that I am well versed in).
The cure for anything but the harmful fungi will be to correct the overwatering issue.
The harmful fungi will rely on moisture from its host, and will not mind dry conditions, unfortunatley,
There is a delicate balance between watering enough and watering too much, but I can understand the thinking behind extra water in this heat. Unfortunately, this is not the correct way to deal with heat, here in the south.
The way forward will be to correct watering issues. Water only when the soil is COMPLETELY DRY down to about 2 or 3 inches, or even just a little more. Most fungi reside at this depth, while roots extend far beyond this.
When heat becomes and issue, a shade cloth should be erected during the hottest portions of the day.
I am sorry that I can't be of much more assistance than this, but if you would like to include photos, then I could tell you, Exactly, what it is. This will allow me to give you a treatment option that will work, depending on what you have going on.
