Will a mushroom harm cottonwood - Ask Extension
At the base of our cottonwoods, surrounding our home, I rake spent limbs. Recently small, brown capped mushrooms appeared in the soil next to the base...
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Will a mushroom harm cottonwood #880626
Asked August 07, 2024, 8:55 PM EDT
At the base of our cottonwoods, surrounding our home, I rake spent limbs. Recently small, brown capped mushrooms appeared in the soil next to the base of one of the trees. Unlike an oyster mushroom or chicken of the woods mushroom growing out of the tree, I believe these small soil-based mushrooms are not harmful but beneficial to the soil around the tree.
Your opinion?
Chisago County Minnesota
Expert Response
As long as these mushrooms are just growing out of the soil and not on the tree, they may be harmless. However, I would ask that you contact the Minnesota Mycological Society with photos and ask for an identification: https://minnesotamycologicalsociety.org/
