Fungi
Learn which garden fungi are damaging to plants and how to remove them.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time to act | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Don't panic the moment you find fungi in the garden. They thrive in moist, warm conditions and many are harmless. The two most damaging are the honey-coloured honey fungus and fairy rings. The former is a killer and spreads through the soil between diseased and healthy plants via tough, leathery, bootlace-like rhizomorphs. Fairy rings attack grass roots and produce brown toadstools in summer.
Symptoms
Individual fungi or clusters of toadstools appear in the garden, often after a spell of warm, wet weather.
Find it on
lawns, trees, just about anywhere around the garden
Organic
With honey fungus, remove and destroy the entire root system, as well as the stump of the affected plants and any adjacent planting to at least 1.2m either side. You'll also need to remove the surrounding soil and replace it with fresh. With fairy rings, remove the affected turf and soil, and replace.
Jan subscription offer
Get our Year Planner 2025 with a subscription to BBC Gardeners' World magazine. Get 6 issues for £14.99.
Your Guide to Roses on sale now
Love roses? Inside our guide is everything you need to know for success with your blooms, from pruning to problem solving. On sale in stores and online now!
Discover our NEW Travel & Events Brochure
Whether it's the vibrant beauty of Madeira's Flower Festival or the quiet luxury of a Cornish shepherd's hut, our NEW Travel & Events Brochure is your guide to unforgettable experiences.
New podcast series
Give your mental and physical health a boost, with our new Wellness podcast series from Monty and the team.
