Bulbs Flower Basics Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens Flower Garden Garden Furniture Garden Gnomes Garden Seeds Garden Sheds Garden Statues Garden Tools & Supplies Gardening Basics Green & Organic Groundcovers & Vines Growing Annuals Growing Basil Growing Beans Growing Berries Growing Blueberries Growing Cactus Growing Corn Growing Cotton Growing Edibles Growing Flowers Growing Garlic Growing Grapes Growing Grass Growing Herbs Growing Jasmine Growing Mint Growing Mushrooms Orchids Growing Peanuts Growing Perennials Growing Plants Growing Rosemary Growing Roses Growing Strawberries Growing Sunflowers Growing Thyme Growing Tomatoes Growing Tulips Growing Vegetables Herb Basics Herb Garden Indoor Growing Landscaping Basics Landscaping Patios Landscaping Plants Landscaping Shrubs Landscaping Trees Landscaping Walks & Pathways Lawn Basics Lawn Maintenance Lawn Mowers Lawn Ornaments Lawn Planting Lawn Tools Outdoor Growing Overall Landscape Planning Pests, Weeds & Problems Plant Basics Rock Garden Rose Garden Shrubs Soil Specialty Gardens Trees Vegetable Garden Yard Maintenance

Remedy for White Fungus on Lilac Bushes

How to Start Lemon Seeds Indoors - watch on youtube
Remedy for White Fungus on Lilac Bushes

Remedy for White Fungus on Lilac Bushes. Gardeners with common lilac in the yard will no doubt be familiar with an annoying white film that often shows up on the leaves. This film is actually a fungus known as powdery mildew, and though not actually dangerous to the plant from a health standpoint, the unsightly coating is often a bane to the...

Gardeners with common lilac in the yard will no doubt be familiar with an annoying white film that often shows up on the leaves. This film is actually a fungus known as powdery mildew, and though not actually dangerous to the plant from a health standpoint, the unsightly coating is often a bane to the gardener's aesthetic, and removal, if possible, is desired.
About Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew typically spreads toward the end of the hot summer months. Warm humidity creates ideal conditions for the spread of this fungus, which spreads as spores attach to different leaves over time. Powdery mildew is especially persistent, as Leann Pundt of the University of Connecticut Extension Office points out, because, "Unlike most other fungi, powdery mildew spores do not require water on the leaf surface in order to germinate and then infect a leaf." Typical fungi prevention and control is therefore slightly less effective on powdery mildew.
Prevention
Richard Dorset and Michael Ferguson of the University of Nebraska Extension Office point out that, "The easiest way to control powdery mildew is to prevent its occurrence." Prevention starts with planting methods: Providing adequate space between lilacs in a well-aerated part of the yard will reduce the likelihood that powdery mildew will spread, according to Pundt. Tara Barrett of the Iowa State University Extension Office recommends watering only at the base of the plant, and avoiding both over-watering and over-fertilizing. Over-watering leads to higher levels of humidity, while over-fertilizing leads to an increased number of vulnerable new shoots that may give powdery mildew a foothold.
Controlling Powdery Mildew Spread
If powdery mildew has already taken hold of a plant in your yard, catching it early and acting quickly will provide the best results in stopping its spread. The Cornell University Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic recommends that you immediately destroy any fallen leaves around the plant, and that fungicide applications begin as soon as powdery mildew is discovered. Be sure to check the label of any fungicide you select to verify that it is safe to use on your specific plant.
Discourage Spread in the Future
Within many plant species, varietals exist that may be more resistant to one particular disease or fungus than another. If you have a recurrent problem with powdery mildew in your yard, you should always look for plants with higher resistance levels. This will not only discourage powdery mildew from tainting yet another perfectly healthy plant, it will also interrupt the spread of the fungus from one part of the yard to another. With a little awareness and some good prevention practices, you should be able to successfully control the presence of powdery mildew in your yard.

Check out these related posts