Learn how to prevent and treat this fungal infection that thrives in humid environments
Powdery mold can show up in a variety of plants in theSoutheast , including trees , bush , perennials , and vegetables . The in high spirits humidness that we experience in the Southeast put up just the right conditions for this plant life pathogen to produce . Powdery mildew is a fungus . It come forth as white or gray growth on stem , flush , or leaves of diseased plant life . More - austere infestations can leave in shoot and leaves being twisted and distorted . harm to flower buds often causes misshapen flowers that are of modest calibre . Powdery mould may even forbid unfolding on infected plants . Not every works is highly susceptible to powdery mold . However , if a plant is known to be infect easily , there are some stair you’re able to take . Here are some highly susceptible plant .
Plants most susceptible to powdery mildew in the Southeast
Woody plants : Roses , crape myrtles , lilacs ( Syringaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–8 ) , genus Euonymus ( Euonymusspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) , dogwoods ( Cornusspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) , some oaks ( Quercusspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–10 ) , somehydrangeas(Hydrangeaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 )
Herbaceous plants : Verbena ( Verbenaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–11 ) , phlox ( Phloxspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–8 ) , bee balm ( Monardaspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) , zinnias ( Zinnia spp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) , gerbera daisy ( Gerbera jamesonii , Zones 8–10 )
veg crops : Cucurbit crops , includingsquash , cucumber vine , pumpkin , andmelons .
Preventing powdery mildew
Powdery mildew is a very usual pathogen in the Southeast . It ’s concentrated to elude its comportment in your garden . However , there are a few things you may do to stop problem before they start . The majority of these involve ethnical control methods . Perhaps the most significant is choose disease - resistant cultivar from the scratch line . advanced plant breeding has brought us many varieties of garden favorites less susceptible to powdery mildew . For example , there are now many cultivars of crepe myrtle ( Lagerstroemiaspp . and cvs . , Zones 7–9 ) , flowering dogwood ( Cornusflorida , Zones 5–8 ) , and manycucurbit cropsthat show immunity to powdery mildew .
Factors that favor powdery mildew
Susceptible plants are infect via airborne spores . Infection is most probable to materialize when temperatures are more temperate ( 65 ° to 90 ° atomic number 9 ) . Growth of the fungus is often bottle up when temperatures exceed 90 ° degree Fahrenheit . Mildew spores do not take free - flowing water to reproduce . fungous growth is favor by cooler nighttime temperature and high relative humidness .
Give susceptible plants some room
Another way you could help guard off powdery mould in the Southeast is byspacing plantsappropriately in the landscape . If a plant life is known to be susceptible , you could help ward off a powdery mildew contagion by not push susceptible plants . This is important with ornamentals , and I find it peculiarly critical for somevegetable crop . For example , cucurbits can not easily be grown in tight spaces in the Southeast . Do everything you’re able to to get these plants good flow of air . This include just spacing . Additionally , avoid planting all your cucurbit in the same areas of the garden as you did the late year .
Use less fertilizer
Fertilizingtoo heavy can extend to the exacerbation of powdery mould . head off using excess nitrogen fertilizer on plant life know to be susceptible . This is especially important if untried foliage has already become septic with mildew .
Treating a powdery mildew infection
Powdery mold is due to mildew fungus in several genus . Unlike most fungi , mildews only colonize the airfoil of plant . This means that eradication is potential . This can require the judicious usance of fungicides or wettable sulfur . Keeping farewell wet also helps forbid the spread of powdery mildew spores . Talk to an extension agent at a regional university in your orbit for more - specific information . Remember , control of powdery mildew starts with the plants you opt . peck varieties that show known resistivity to powdery mold will always be your good stake .
For more on preclude and do by powdery mildew , check out :
— Andy Pulte is a module phallus in the plant life sciences section at the University of Tennessee .
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It’s not just herbaceous garden plants that are susceptible to this disease; trees like this oak can be infected by powdery mildew too.Photo: Andy Pulte
Squash is very susceptible to powdery mildew. Be sure to space plants appropriately to help prevent infection.Photo: Ann E. Stratton
Rainfall and frequent irrigation are actually more likely to help prevent a powdery mildew infection than to perpetuate an existing one.Photo: Paula Gross
