Non-Chemical Management
- Correctly prepare infested area prior to replanting. As soon as possible, remove and destroy plants which are severely diseased to prevent the fungus from spreading. It is important to remove as much of the root system as possible.
- Choose the right plant for the specific location and provide proper cultural care. This will result in healthier plants better able to resist Armillaria root rot.
- Avoid watering directly onto the base of the trunk of trees and large shrubs.
- Dig a trench to isolate infected soil and prevent spread of the disease to adjacent plants. A vertical metal barrier can be placed in the trench prior to refilling to prevent the roots from adjacent healthy plants.
- For valuable plants not seriously affected, consider removing the soil around rotted parts of the lower trunk and larger roots. Cut out the diseased parts of these areas down to healthy tissue. Allow the exposed roots and lower trunk to dry during summer, but replace the soil before freezing weather occurs in the fall.
- Replant with resistant species, such as white fir, Japanese maple, madrone, smoke tree, Leyland cypress, Russian olive, St. Johnswort, English holly, Oregon grape, Scotch pine, crabapple or pear. The degree to which plants are resistant is variable and depends on plant health as well as other factors such as amount of disease pressure.
Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!
