Protect your plants from diseases by knowing the symptoms to watch for and practicing prevention.
Plant diseases are likely to make an appearance in just about any garden from time to time.
Other diseases can mean game over, no matter what.
Credit: Kindra Clineff
What Causes Plant Diseases?
Ideal conditions (e.g., humid, dry, or cloudy) allow the disease to develop.
Bacteria are single-celled organisms that live on various kinds of organic matter.
Credit:Peter Krumhardt
Fungi live on plants and cause visible symptoms.
Viruses are the smallest of disease vectors and the most difficult to control.
Insects typically spread plant viruses, but some are spread byinfected toolsand seeds.
Credit:Denny Schrock
Peter Krumhardt
1.
Leaf spots tend to appear and spread during extended periods of wet weather.
Provide good air circulation around plants to encourage foliage to dry quickly.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Denny Schrock
2.
Mosaic Virus
Symptoms of mosaic virus include yellow or green mottled patterns on the infected leaves.
Avoid planting susceptible plants in the same spot.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Powdery Mildew
This fungal plant disease looks like a white powder on leaves and stems.
Ample space between plants will allow for air circulation, discouraging the growth of powdery mildew.
Rose Rosette Disease
This viral plant disease is spread by a minuscule mite.Rose rosette diseasecannot be prevented or cured.
Credit: Scott Little
The best course of action is to remove infected rose plants as quickly as possible.
Symptoms include thick, reddish new stems with many times the normal number of thorns.
There is often a large flush of growth at the end of the infected stems.
Rust appears on leaves as orange, gold, or brown-red spots.
This disease mostly just looks bad and doesn’t cause lasting harm to the plant.
Give susceptible plants proper care and they should naturally overcome a rust outbreak.
Aphids are a common problem exacerbated by poor soil or plant overcrowding.Add ladybugsto your garden to help control them.
Insects are always present in a gardenknowing the difference betweenbeneficial onesand those that cause damage is essential.
