Landscape Management, September 2009
FIGHT plant disease PLANNING PROPER IRRIGATION KEY TO CONTROLLING DISEASES IN THE LANSCAPE BY BAlAN AlBRIGHT N O THING MARS the appearance of an otherwise attractive landscape like yeIcm I rovm or witted plants F gaI and bacterial diseases can lay waste to ornamentals and peremial gardens if left uncontrolled leaving plants deformed stunted defoliated or worse With proper pIanniIg and plant care though many eoml1 lOl l diseases can be effectively treated or avoided altogether This year the eastern half of the U S has experienced unseasonably COOl and wet summer weather leading to an increase in fungal infections in many landscapes and gardens We are seeing rTlOfe bacterial problems Inan we normally do as well as foliar leaf spots and blights on perennials says Sharon Douglas head Of the Department of Plant Pathology and ECOlogy al the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station The weather has exaggerated the diseases appearing this year adds Malgery Daughtrey senior extension associate at Cornels Departmen of Plant Pathology These diseases are aNr 1tS arotXld but are much rTlOfe obvious when you have thiS kind of rainy weather ThaIs why it is important to be able to identify and treat the most common problems and cafe for plants in a w rf thats ooikety to COfltribute to future infections Common disease types The most common problems in the landscape are typically fol iar leaf spots or blights Leaf spot can be caused by both fungi and bacteria and result in dark blotches or spots on fOliage of perennials like irises phloxes or hellebores Gray mold botrytis frequently appears on flowers and is common on roses and geraniums Gray mold is very t to control especialy when we have wea hef like thiS says Steve Nameth professor and associate chair of the Department of Plant Pathology at The Ohio State lJniversity BENARY VARIETY FOCUS GOMPHRENA LAS VEGAS SERIES PROU SPONSORS BaiL B enary dsmith SEEDS Bacterialleafspot on coraIbell _ ruin the decorative foliage that make the plants popular A116 20 in tal the Las Vegas seres is perfectOf 45 in pot nne vibrant coklrs pD 1UPIe and lo1lite otter a bright mix IOf any lalldscaj e settJ1g Quick crop times 9 11 weeIIs and versatility In lhe IafIdscape make hiS series a sure winner Heat and droughl tOlerant the Las vegas series ttuives in hot dry locations througoout the COUnliV SEPTEMBER 2009 LANDSCAPEMANAGEMENT NET 37
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