Plant Health Page 1
Plant Health
Plants grown under the proper conditions will be healthy plants. What are the proper conditions?
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Full sun plants in the sun, shade plants in the shade.
- Many full sun plants will still perform in part day sun.
- Sun plants that don’t get enough sun will be stressed and more liable to attack by pests. Shade plants in sun will get crispy leaves.
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Adequate water
- Prairie plants like purple coneflower and some bulbs will not do well under sprinkler systems. They don’t need so much water.
- Plants that don’t get enough water are stressed and more susceptible to insect attack and disease pressures.
- Some plants, like LA Iris and bald cypress go both ways and will grow equally well in shallow water and on well-drained ground.
- Fertile soil, built either with organic amendments or fertilizer application (or both).
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Use a mulch
- 3-4” of leaves, pine straw or bark, replenished as needed.
- Mulch adds nutrients as it decomposes.
- Mulch conserves moisture and makes a barrier against weed germination.
Sometimes severe weather makes plants problem-prone.
- Too much rain fills oxygen spaces in soil and plants suffer.
- Too little water stresses plants.
- High humidity makes powdery mildew thrive.
- High rainfall increases insect reproduction (and attacks).
- High rainfall spreads disease by carrying spores across leaves.
Plans of attack:
Insects:
- Preventive sprays are only used for commercial production and tea roses.
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For occasional outbreaks, identify your pest and spray the least toxic chemical.
- Only spray when pests are there. They are NOT there year-round.
- Only spray the infested plants.
- Follow the chemical label carefully and repeat as directed.
- Alternate between 2 pesticides to avoid developing resistant super-bugs.
- Don’t spray within 4 feet of bodies of water.
- Carbaryl (Sevin) is low toxicity and kills anything that “chomps” when it eats a treated leaf.
- Systemic insecticides (acephate, imidicloprid) are best for sap suckers like aphids, whiteflies and scale. Do not use on vegetables and fruits unless it’s labeled for them.
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Malathion – good basic contact insecticide (must get it on bug).
- Organic insecticides:
Insecticidal soap – must get it on the insect; works best on soft bodied insects like aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, thrips. Harmless to ladybugs & predators.
Neem – insect hormone disruptor for soft bodied insects. Harmless to ladybugs & predators. Read On...