Originally Posted by David E. Ross

On 6/8/2009 11:55 AM, bob the builder wrote:
David E. Ross;849884 Wrote:
On 6/7/2009 1:24 PM, bob the builder wrote:-
Hi all i am new so please be easy on me. I was digging up a dead
conifer
today for a client and there was little yellow balls all over the
root
ball. That when you pinch them they pop and there dry inside does
anyone know what they are please help thank you
-

Sounds like some form of fungus (e.g., toadstool). If you pop one,
try
to avoid breathing in the dust they eject; it might be toxic.

They will disappear after all the conifer roots have decomposed. If
you
want to get rid of them sooner, scatter some soil sulfur in the area.


Thank you for your reply. They look like tiny pea size sweet corn and
when you squeeze them there bone dry. Do you think that they could of
killed the conifer as there is a at least 30 odd in a row. Once again
thank you


Mushrooms generally grow only on dead or dying matter. They usually do
not kill healthy plants.

(Earlier, I used "toadstool" instead of "mushroom" to be sure you
understood that they might be toxic. While they might not be a serious
danger, I would exercise some caution when handling them.)

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary