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When you plant a garden or landscape in your yard, you dream of lush foilage covering the ground, creating a perfect welcome for guests or an oasis for your family.
So it’s only logical that when a slight white fungus begins to show up on your leaves, you feel a little panicked. Your landscaping and garden have powdery mildew.
If powder mildew has begun to take over your plants, do not worry. You can treat the plants and the mildew will disappear. If you haven’t spotted powdery mildew yet, you can prevent it with a few simple steps.
Keep reading to learn all of the powdery mildew tips you need to know.
What Is Powdery Mildew?
Understanding powdery mildew helps you better know how to treat it.
Powdery mildew looks like white or light gray spots that spread across infected plant leaves. It is a common fungus you can find on any one of a variety of plants. Usually, you see it on leaves, but when you lift up the leaves, you will see it on the fruit, vegetables, steams, and under the leaves.
Left untreated powdery mildew will spread and eventually cover the individual plant and any other plant near it.
We typically see powdery mildew in warm, dry areas of the country. It also needs high humidity such as when you have warm days and cooler evenings in the spring before the heat of summer sets in. If your plants do not get adequate sunlight or have poor circulation, they may fall prey to this fungus as well.
On the positive side, experts agree that plants do not usually die from powdery mildew. Rather, they just look horribly disfigured and will often bloom less, grow more slowly, and have weak stems.
Powdery Mildew Treatment
To treat powdery mildew, start with your pantry. Create a baking soda solution of 1/2 teaspoon of liquid soap, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, and a gallon of water. Then spray your plants liberally, soaking the areas with powdery mildew.
You can also try 1 tablespoon of potassium bicarbonate mixed with 1/2 teaspoon of liquid soap and a gallon of water. Spray this on like you would the baking soda mixture.
Milk also has had some effect on powdery mildew, especially on vine plants such as melons, zucchini, and cucumbers. Just mix 1 part of milk to 3 parts water, and then spray on the mildew.
When you notice powdery mildew, begin trimming your plants immediately. Prune off the infected leaves. You can even cut some infected perennials to the ground, allowing new shoots to grow.
When these remedies don’t work, it’s time to call in the big guns. Experts like those you find at marronebio.com best know how to handle this fungus.
Preventing Powdery Mildew
To combat mildew, you can prevent it from the start. Airflow is mildew’s enemy, so create space between your plants and the borders around your plants, allowing for good air circulation.
Put plants in appropriate sunlight as well according to their prescribed needs. As parts of your plants die, prune off the dead foliage, and then disinfect your pruners.
Avoid the Fungus
Now that you’ve read this thorough powdery mildew guide, you should have a good idea of how to both prevent and treat this dangerous disease. Give your plants space when you plant them and cut off or treat the infected leaves the moment you notice the deforming white powder.
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