Hi folks, here in NE Wisconsin we’ve had a very damp and cold spring thus far. Such weather is not the most enjoyable for man or beast and has caused the cancellation of many an outdoor celebration this spring. But many times the problems caused by cool wet conditions extend to the plants growing in and outside of your home.
Cool wet conditions are the breeding grounds of molds, mildews and other fungual diseases on plant material. Some of the usual culprits include powdery mildew, rust, black spot, early blight, crown rot and verticillium wilt. If you are growing a plant in a container you may have the ability to reduce the moisture levels in your pot by moving the pot to a protected area where it will not receive as much moisture.
But unlike container plants, items planted in the ground will simply have to endure this weather Mother Nature is throwing at us. To help, there are several fungicides we offer at The Plant Station Greenhouse to keep disease at bay. One of our best selling items is a 3-in-one spray that treats for insects, mites and fungal diseases. It comes in a simple mist bottle and is perfect for small plants that can be misted by hand.
We also offer Bayer Advanced’s line of systemic care products. These are excellent products that are highly effective and easy to use. You simply mix the product with a given volume of water and pour the solution onto the roots of the plant. The plant then draws up the product and treats from the inside out. This is a highly effective way to keep disease at bay.
For those who prefer to keep their treatment methods organic, we offer modern day Bordeaux Mix, an excellent way to control fungal diseases and some bacterial diseases. While Bordeaux Mix is organic, it is only a topical product applied to the foliage of a plant and therefore is easily washed off by rain or even a heavy dew. As a result, organic methods of control tend to be more expensive and more labor intensive to maintain their effectiveness.
Lastly, this time of year before perennial plants such as flowers, shrubs and trees begin to leaf out you also can use a product called dormant oil to head off any fungal problems. Dormant oil is just that, a light oil product that is sprayed over the branches and twigs while a plant is still dormant to smother off any diseases or insects.
You can find all the above mentioned products as well as a knowledgeable and friendly staff here at The Plant Station Greenhouse. Stop in today for all your gardening needs.
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