What is this? Could it be killing other things?

[maldivemoment]

This is currently growing around a few shrubs, etc. It’s covering the ground around a little tree that’s sprouted up but the tree is now looking poorly.

Weve been so busy with other jobs that we’ve largely ignored this. Does anyone know what it is? It’s very soft and spongy?
Coukd it be killing tho other plants? Stopping light getting to the roots? (Does light need to get to the roots???? 🥴 Clueless!)

Looks likw Mind Your Own ;Business. Loves shade but is invasive ans can quickly start growing through a lawn.

Mind grows in damp shade on the area I let grow wild ans insects seem to love it. If you do want shot of it then you will need to carefully fork it out

It wont be harming the tree so there will be another reason for it ailing

The tree might not like the damp conditions, but it won't be harmed by those weeds.

Thank you all.

Sounds like I need to deal with it asap.
Sigh…

Why? Everyone’s telling you it won’t harm the tree.

Sunlight needs to reach the leaves not the roots. The roots should be below ground!😁

It will take over any shady parts of your lawn (and will look crushed and miserable if you walk in it, so it's not as good as grass) and make its way into shady flowerbeds. It's an absolute bugger to get rid of as even the tiniest bit is capable of rerooting.

I used to surgically excise dinner-plate sized sections from our lawn. It took me years to get rid of it. Next door's is currently trying to creep under the fence...

Mind your own business. I would leave it actually, since it’s hard to get grass to grow under trees and it seems to be growing happily there.

Thanks again everyone

@MereDintofPandiculation although it may not be harming the tree, I’m inferring from the comments that it’s very invasive. I’d rather it didn’t cover the entire garden so that’s why I’ll attempt to remove it.

I’ve not spotted it anywhere else in the garden (yet!) and not noticed it in neighbouring properties. Anyone know how it might have started????

I’d rather it didn’t cover the entire garden so that’s why I’ll attempt to remove it. It won’t cover the entire garden. It likes gravel paths and damp shady areas where nothing else will grow. I find it hard to believe it will get into a healthy lawn, but I can imagine it will get into areas where the grass is struggling. I would go with @Zusammen and leave it under the tree as preferable to bare earth, but you may prefer the bare earth.

Thank you @MereDintofPandiculation. will it just stop spreading when it reaches a sunny spot/healthy patch?

All advice gratefully received…

It won't be able to spread if there's something else already growing there. And it'll be much smaller in a sunny spot and dry up and die if it gets too hot.

Coincidentally I've just read a RHS magazine description of a garden saying something like"one of the success stories is the gentle mounds of "mind-your-own-business softening the edge of the limestone paving".