Subterranean roots

Weed fairy

I moved here 2 years ago and front garden was a decent sized square of lawn with no plants at all. I started digging up the lawn and making a spiral border that ultimately will fill the whole space with shingle paths following the spiral shape. Soon after I began I noticed a crop of fungi in a very regular pattern across the lawn. Honey fungus. I was therefore not surprised to find when digging huge fat roots of trees that had been cut down and the roots left. This has resulted in bent forks and a sore back plus the worry about the honey fungus affecting the plants I am putting in. Any thoughts on what plants would be at risk? 

 

Dovefromabove

Are you sure it's honey fungus - there are other fungi/toadstools that will develop on rotting wood under the ground.  Have you seen rizomorphs?  There's lot's of information here http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=180

We have similar roots decaying under our lawn, and when digging a new border we were thrilled to find stag beetle larvae feeding on the rotting roots under the turf.  Of course we replaced them immediately.

We have fairy rings and blushers in our garden, but so far I've seen no signs of honey fungus.  There is more information here which may be helpful http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/problems/lawns/fungi/383.html

 

Weed fairy

Thanks Dove. Im pretty sure its honey fungus. Most herbaceous plants are from cuttings and I have the stock plants separately in back garden. My worry is the azaleas and rhododendrons that I have already put in and a couple of little crab apples that I grew from seed that are poised to go in but I would hate to lose.

Dovefromabove

Good luck