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Have you ever come home from work only to wonder why in the
world your plants look as if someone had dumped talcum
powder all over them? After interrogating your spouse and
kids to no avail, you go back out to your plants only to
realize the mysterious isn't powder at all. Instead, it
seems more like a growth on the leaves themselves, kind of
like . . . mildew. Yes, your plants have run into a battle
with powdery mildew. What can you do to help your plants win
the war?
First, we must know exactly what powdery mildew is. Though
there are different types of mildews out there, all are a
fungus that resemble a dust of light grey to white powder on
plant leaves and stems. It will form especially on younger
leaves which are more tender and less immune to infection.
At first, powdery mildew only damages the plant
aesthetically; that is, your plant just won't look as good.
But if you leave the fungus to it's own devices, it will
soon cause stunting and distortion of leaves, buds, growing
tips, and fruits; leaves will yellow and then drop; and you
will see a general decline of growth and vigor of the plant.
Powdery mildew is a fungus that should be taken care of when
spotted.
Though caused by a fungus, the formation of powdery mildew
can be aided by the surrounding environment. This fungus
prefers times of the year where cool nights come after warm
days. It also forms where there is insufficient light for a
plant to thrive. Plants that are stressed by environmental
conditions have less energy to ward off offending pests.
Powdery mildew also will grow in an area with poor air
circulation and increased humidity. Does this remind you of
another area where mildew will form?
When given the right conditions, powdery mildew can form on
most plants. However, there are some plant varieties that
contract the fungus more than others. Some plants to watch
out for are crape myrtles, euonymous, roses, zinnias,
grapes, tomatoes, apple trees, maples, peach trees,
sycamores, clematis, and hydrangea. But wait, don't go
pulling these plants out of your garden yet! There are
numerous things you can do to help prevent and control the
spread of powdery mildew.
Prevention almost always is easier than control of an
existing problem. There are many things you can do to
prevent the introduction of powdery mildew into your
landscape. In the landscape planning stage, you can opt to
plant only resistant varieties of ornamental plants, which
are less likely to contract the fungus. When watering your
plants, take care to keep most of the water off of the
leaves to prevent humidity around the plant. Also, make
frequent inspections of your plants. When caught early,
removing powdery mildew from your garden can be done rather
easily.
Once spotted, the sooner you begin to control your powdery
mildew outbreak, the easier it will be. First, reduce the
amount of nitrogen in your fertilizer applications. This
will keep the plant from producing too much new green tissue
which is like a delicacy to the fungus. Also, pick off and
destroy any plant part that is infested with the mildew. You
don't want to compost this material or you could spread the
fungus to your other plants. Lastly, look into some
horticultural or fungicide sprays for your plant. Look at
the labels to find if it will be right for your plant; some
fungicides are more target-specific than others. Don't
forget to read the entire label, including warnings, before
applying any pesticide.
By correctly identifying, preventing, and controlling
powdery mildew in your landscape, you can spend less time
fretting about the lagging health of your plants and more
time enjoying the beauty of your landscape. Instead of that
dull, whitish cast among your plants, they will be shining
with a healthy, bright green luster. Lastly, not only will
your family also appreciate the lovely greenery, they will
be relieved they will never again be the accused parties of
a conspired talcum powder plot.
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