Lumpy Bracket Fungus Is Peaking This October — Here's What to Do

If you have fruit trees or mature hardwoods on your property, October is one of the most important months to pay attention to what's growing on your bark. Lumpy Bracket fungus is currently in peak activity, and homeowners across more than a dozen states are reporting sightings right now. Here's what you need to know — and what you should actually do about it this month.

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Why October Matters for Lumpy Bracket

Based on typical seasonal patterns, Lumpy Bracket tends to be active from late winter through early summer, then resurges in the fall — with September, October, and November representing its second major window of the year. That makes this month a critical time to act.

Fall conditions often work in this fungus's favor. Cooling temperatures, increased rainfall, falling leaves, and the natural stress that trees experience as they wind down for the season can all make woody plants more vulnerable to fungal colonization. Bracket fungi in particular tend to fruit — meaning they produce the visible mushroom-like structures you'll notice on bark — during these wetter, cooler periods.

The good news: catching it now, before winter sets in, gives you real options. See the full details on Lumpy Bracket to understand the complete disease cycle.

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What to Look for Right Now

Lumpy Bracket produces visible fungal bodies — shelf- or bracket-shaped growths — emerging directly from tree bark or woody tissue. Based on community observations, it has been identified growing from the side of apple trees, which suggests a preference for fruit trees, though other hardwood hosts may be affected as well.

This time of year, walk your property and inspect:

• The lower trunk and root flare — bracket fungi often emerge from the base or from wounds near the ground
• Major scaffold branches — look for shelf-like protrusions, especially on the underside of limbs
• Old pruning cuts and wounds — these are common entry points for wood-decay fungi
• Any recently stressed trees — trees that lost limbs in summer storms, suffered drought stress, or were damaged by insects are higher-risk candidates

If you're not sure what you're looking at, use the TreeIssues diagnosis tool to upload a photo and get a more confident ID before taking action.

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Where It's Currently Active

Lumpy Bracket is confirmed active this October across a broad swath of the country, including Pennsylvania, California, Minnesota, Michigan, Georgia, New Hampshire, Indiana, Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland, New York, Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee, Maine, North Carolina, and Kentucky.

This is a wide geographic footprint spanning the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, South, and parts of the West Coast. If you're in any of these states and you have mature trees — especially apple trees or other fruit-bearing species — a visual inspection this month is strongly recommended.

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What to Do This Month

Lumpy Bracket is rated moderate severity, which means it warrants attention and proactive management, though it doesn't require emergency response in most cases. Here are the steps you can take right now:

1. Sanitation and Pruning Remove any infected branches and dispose of them — do not compost. Rake up and bag fallen debris around affected trees, as fungal spores can overwinter in leaf litter and reinfect next season. If you prune, sterilize your tools between cuts with a diluted bleach solution or isopropyl alcohol to avoid spreading pathogens.

2. Improve Air Circulation Dense canopy growth traps moisture — exactly what fungal pathogens love. Consider thinning interior branches to open up the canopy. This is a reasonable DIY task for small trees but should be handled by a professional for larger specimens.

3. Manage Soil and Moisture Check drainage around your trees. Standing water near the root zone creates conditions where fungal pathogens thrive. Apply a 2–3 inch layer of organic mulch around the base of the tree (keeping it away from direct contact with the trunk) to reduce soil splash, which can move spores from the ground up onto bark.

4. Consider Fungicide Application Systemic or contact fungicides can be applied at the first clear sign of infection. Because fall weather can be persistently wet in many of the affected states, repeat applications may be necessary. Always follow label rates and timing instructions carefully, and consider consulting a professional before applying.

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When to Call an Arborist

Some situations go beyond DIY management. Contact a certified arborist if:

• The bracket growths are large, numerous, or located on the main trunk
• The tree shows signs of structural decline — dead branches, leaning, soft or crumbling wood at the base
• You're unsure whether the tree is safe to keep standing near structures or high-traffic areas
• Previous treatments haven't controlled the problem

Bracket fungi are often indicators of internal wood decay, which affects a tree's structural integrity — not just its health. An arborist can assess whether the tree is still sound or poses a risk.

Find a certified arborist near you to schedule an inspection before the ground freezes and access becomes more difficult.

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Stay ahead of seasonal threats all year long with the TreeIssues seasonal forecast.