Tree roots stinking the garden out - advice needed!

dan_kett

Hi there, quite a common problem here I think but not sure how to go about sorting it and getting mixed advice as usual. 

A few months ago we had a tree taken down, and whilst the stump is mostly now dead the roots are rotting and causing an awful sicky smell. I've tried chopping them back lower down into the ground but the problem keeps coming back - wet soil, whiteish liquid and lots of little flies. 

I know why this is happening but not sure if there is something I can do to stop it (without taking up the entire lawn), or if it's best just to leave it? I'm hoping it will sort itself out at some point...

Thanks! 

pansyface

Not sure that I can remember this ever happening to any tree I’ve removed, but all things must pass.😊

Helix

You can try epsom salts.  Drill holes in the stump, pour it in and then cover with candle wax.   It’s better than using chemicals which leach into the soil. 

Otherwise it will eventually rot, but it could take a while.

Fire

I've not heard this either. What kind of tree was it?

josusa47

Stinkhorn fungus can grow in rotting stumps and roots.  I don't know if the mycelium smells as bad as the fruiting bodies. 

Skandi

josusa47 said:

Stinkhorn fungus can grow in rotting stumps and roots.  I don't know if the mycelium smells as bad as the fruiting bodies. 

No it doesn't smell at all neither do the immature fruits.. people even eat them in the "egg" stage!

White liquid that's sticky, possibly bubbly and smells like it might be fermenting? It sounds like it's the sap rising still, I cut a lot of sycamore down this spring and their stumps are doing that (it's orange in my case but same idea)

Fire

This suggests stinkhorn is very stinky.

Dovefromabove

Fire said:

This suggests stinkhorn is very stinky.

Oh yes it undoubtedly is ... but only the phallus- shaped fruiting body, not the mycelium.