Fungi-filled mulch

6 years ago

In September our landscapers put in black mulch with new plants around the north-facing side of our house. Previously we had some other plants that they removed, with very old mulch and some areas of just hard looking soil that drained poorly in certain areas. Many areas get little if any sun during the day, and now the mulch is compacted with white fungus almost throughout. The landscapers are going to remove the mulch and I’m thinking maybe just a loamy soil with a little pine bark mulch (up to one inch) to enhance good drainage, though they originally just wanted to replace it with identical mulch! Our southern magnolia and cherry laurel have brown tips and the cherry laurel has shot-hole disease, likely from this. I’ve attached some photos showing what I think is the plants being suffocated by fungus. There are mosquitos and it smells moldy when it is dug up, and I am disgusted. What type of soil mulch combo do you advise? Thanks in advance.

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

6 years ago

It will disappear all on its own. You just need a little patience :-) FWIW, replacing with a different type of organic mulch is just as likely to generate a similar type of fungal organism anyway.

If gelatinous, it could be a slime mold like dog vomit fungus (pretty much the same thing as a fungus and also grows on dead OM) but the photos look more like fungal mycelium to me.

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Comments (9)

lisanti07028
6 years ago
Fungus is just the mulch starting to decompose (slowly). Just stir it up with a cultivator if it bothers you.
Jenn Hoffman Ambler,PA (7A)
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you for the response. I tried breaking it up but the mulch fungi has morphed into smelly, several inch deep gelatinous substance in many areas that when turned over sticks in Clumps.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
As stated previously, the fungus (actually mycelium) is just a part of the normal decomposition process of any non-living organic matter. In this case, the mulch. While it may be unattractive, it is harmless to any living plants and is actually beneficial in that it is releasing nutrients into the soil.

There is NO need to remove the mulch!! The appearance of any fungus will vanish in a short period of time and you will never even know it was there :-)
rmontcal
6 years ago
Gelatinous?!?
Jenn Hoffman Ambler,PA (7A)
Original Author
6 years ago
Yes, the mulch never dries out bc of the north facing location next to our house, and the forms large pieces that almost look like white gel or toothpaste. I’m considering moving it and adding some

Sandy compost with just large bark nuggets, but figured maybe someone in here could give me some advice on what to add. If you could see it you would understand why just flipping it over would not help the situation.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
i agree its all part of the natural decomposition of the mulch ... its natures way ...

ALL natural mulch does this ... but the key here is.. its black.. so you really notice it ...

ken

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsTK2LHZKPQ
armoured
6 years ago
More mulch on top so you don't notice it?
Jenn Hoffman Ambler,PA (7A)
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you everyone for your input!