Fungus on plants, problems & solutions for your NH gardens

Garden Center in Hudson, NH

Countrybrook Farms Nursery & Garden Center
175 Lowell Road Route 3A
Hudson, NH USA 03051
603-886-5200

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Fungus Problems and Solutions

Question ~ I have several mature trees that have some kind of a light gray & light green fungus on the trunk and branches on all sides of the trees. It looks somewhat circular and spongy. I don’t want these valuable trees to die. How can I get rid of it?

Answer ~ From what you have described it sounds like harmless lichens. They are not at all harmful to plants. Do not try to remove them. Lichen is actually fungus and an algae both growing together in a united mass that appears to be a single being. Lichens grow symbiotically, which means that both the algae and the fungus provide something essential to the other for its survival. They use the plants, trees, rocks and other objects just as a place to anchor. Lichens occur in habitats from the Arctic to the Antarctic and everywhere in between. Lichens are indicators of clean air and lack of air pollution. In areas of heavy industrial pollution, no lichens can be found. The lichen population increases gradually with distance from polluted areas and is useful as a measure of pollution intensity. If lichens are growing around your home, this is a very good thing.
About 18,000 species of lichens have been described. There are three types of lichens:

Crustose Lichen ~ grow closely pressed to the surface or even within its surface. Common in our area.

Foliose Lichen ~ are leaf-like lichens flattened like leaves but may not be connected to the surface at all points. Comon in our area.

Fruticose Lichen ~ are shrub-like lichens that have an erect shrub-like or form and can be approximately 10 cm high.

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~ Apples from my tree are all crusty and cracked. What caused this? How can I prevent it from happening again next year?

Apple Scab is a fungus Venturia inaequalis ~ Your apples probably have a disease called apple scab. Although you noticed the disease on the fruit, this fungus caused spots on leaves earlier in the season.

Controlling apple scab involves a combination of steps: planting resistant varieties, avoid using overhead irrigation, raking and destroying fallen leaves infected with the fungus, properly pruning apple trees in late winter to open the canopy, and using fungicide sprays as a preventative for the most susceptible apple and crabapples. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tar spot on maple trees ~ It’s not actually "tar" but rather a fungal disease Rhytisma acerinum or R. punctatum.
Symptoms first appear in late spring or early summer as light green or yellow-green spots. During mid to late summer, black tar-like raised formations are formed on the upper surface of leaves within the yellow spots.

Tar spot diseases seldom are detrimental to the overall health of infected trees, but may cause premature defoliation. Raking and removing the fallen leaves are the best prevention because the fungi over-winter and multiply on leaves.

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~ There are tiny black specks all over my siding. ~ When I look closely they look like little bumps. I can scrape them off, but a brown stain is left behind. What are they and how can I get rid of them or prevent them?

Artillery Fungus Sphaerobolus ~ is the genus name of the most likely the culprit. It can be found in bare soils, bark mulch or manure. It has a unique mechanism for dispersing spores. When enough liquid is accumulated, the cells burst open, propelling the spores as high as a two-story building and can spot siding, downspouts, windows, cars, etc. The fungus is sensitive to light, and will direct the spores towards a light source, including reflected light off of white buildings or vehicles.

The use of crushed stone, or pea gravel mulch in a 3' path next to buildings will reduce the problem. To remove these spots from buildings, try soaking the area with bleach mixed with soap and water. Gentle scrubbing with a brush may be needed, but care must be taken to avoid damage to the surface or the paint. Do a small test area first to avoid damage to the surface or the paint.

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