Dead man's fingers - Ask Extension
I found this in my yard on one of the roots of my maple, Silver I think.
Is there a way to tell if the tree has black root fungus?
What do you r...
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Dead man's fingers #868930
Asked May 17, 2024, 3:44 PM EDT
I found this in my yard on one of the roots of my maple, Silver I think.
Is there a way to tell if the tree has black root fungus?
What do you recommend either way?
Wayne County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello,
This is a fungus called "dead man's fingers". While it is not always an indication of a wood rot, because it can grow in mulch, in this case I do think it is growing on the wood rot you unearthed. This rot is probably due to the sod over the root area not allowing for enough air exchange with the root system.
A recommendation for this tree would be to carefully remove the sod from a 2-foot diameter around the tree base and apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch. Maples have very shallow root systems and are vulnerable to damage by lawn equipment when there is grass right up to the trunk. Remember to keep the mulch away from the trunk to prevent more rot. The shallow root systems benefit from the moisture retention provided by the mulch while allowing the necessary air exchange. Avoid mulch deeper than a few inches and do not pile around the trunk. These mulch "volcanos" can severely impact the health of trees. See the following article for how to mulch a tree properly. Just remember to avoid damaging the tree roots when removing the sod. https://extension.psu.edu/mulching-landscape-trees
Hopefully this was caught in time that there is not widespread root rot. This is something to look for when removing the sod. Avoid over-watering the tree. A tree only needs about an inch of water per week. If the soil is soggy you may need to do some work to allow for better water drainage.
I hope this is helpful. Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.
Ruth
This is a fungus called "dead man's fingers". While it is not always an indication of a wood rot, because it can grow in mulch, in this case I do think it is growing on the wood rot you unearthed. This rot is probably due to the sod over the root area not allowing for enough air exchange with the root system.
A recommendation for this tree would be to carefully remove the sod from a 2-foot diameter around the tree base and apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch. Maples have very shallow root systems and are vulnerable to damage by lawn equipment when there is grass right up to the trunk. Remember to keep the mulch away from the trunk to prevent more rot. The shallow root systems benefit from the moisture retention provided by the mulch while allowing the necessary air exchange. Avoid mulch deeper than a few inches and do not pile around the trunk. These mulch "volcanos" can severely impact the health of trees. See the following article for how to mulch a tree properly. Just remember to avoid damaging the tree roots when removing the sod. https://extension.psu.edu/mulching-landscape-trees
Hopefully this was caught in time that there is not widespread root rot. This is something to look for when removing the sod. Avoid over-watering the tree. A tree only needs about an inch of water per week. If the soil is soggy you may need to do some work to allow for better water drainage.
I hope this is helpful. Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.
Ruth
