M is for Mycorrhizae

Mycorrhizal fungal associations are the amazing connections that trees roots find what nourish them.  Roots themselves, especially the fine roots are pretty good at getting what the tree needs to grow from the ground.  Mycorrhizae supercharges this connection by giving these fine roots even more surface area to absorb nutrients.

Often mycorrhizae are in the ground just waiting for a tree, but not always.  Like any living organism they need a tree to co-exist with. Sometimes when trees have been gone for a long time the mycorrhizae go too.  In a recent article in The Guardian written by Damian Carrington “Magical Mushroom Mix to Boost Regrowth of Lost Scottish Forests”. From the article “The trees’ survival rate will then be compared with those planted without the fungi. While the use of mycorrhizae to boost plants is relatively new, it is known that young trees inoculated with the fungi suffer much less from the shock of planting.”

When you look at trees, think about the whole tree, even the part below the ground.