How To Treat Plant Fungus And Mildew

Do you know how to protect your garden from unwelcome guests? Knowing how to treat plant fungus and mildew will go a long way in keeping it healthy and happy. 

Unfortunately when the conditions are just right, it’s inevitable that your garden will have to fend off an attack from foreign invaders. The tricky part is that there are many types to watch out for, and each thrive in a variety of different conditions. When it comes to spotting types of plant fungus and mildew, who are the usual suspects?

Eight Common Types Of Plant Fungus And Mildew To Watch Out For 

Identifying the type of fungus or mildew that’s taken hold in your lawn or garden is half the battle, as the most effective method in combating it varies. To help you spot the difference, common plant diseases in Australian backyards include:

Black Spot – Rose enthusiasts will recognise this one from it’s black, grey or brown spots that form on the leaves of a plant, causing them to drop. If this affliction takes hold, remove and destroy any infected leaves and ensure none are left behind. 

Downy Mildew – This type of mildew thrives in cool, damp conditions, and preys on plants that are young or already unhealthy. Some plants turn yellow, while in others it prevents flowering. Airflow is key to controlling mildew, so ensure you avoid overcrowding your plants. 

Powdery Mildew – Powdery mildew loves hot and humid conditions. Easily identified by the white powdery fungus that grows on the plant leaves, it’s avoidable by keeping your garden well hydrated and mulched. Try to pick off older leaves to avoid crowding, which mildew loves. 

Blight – A common disease for potato and tomato plants, blight will easily destroy a crop and make it inedible. Leaves tend to dry out and curl inwards, and can be accompanied by powdery mildew in moist conditions. Remove any infected plant immediately to curb the spread. 

Rust – Thankfully, rust is plant specific, so it won’t spread across your entire garden. Although easy to spot as it looks like standard rust forming on your plants, keep it at bay by minimising nitrogen rich organic matter added to your garden. 

Wilt – As the name reflects, wilt causes leaves to turn yellow, brown and ultimately drop off. Common in chrysanthemums, capsicum, tomatoes, potatoes and fruits, it can be avoided by limiting nitrogen rich organic matter much the recommendation for rust. 

Clubroot – More difficult to spot, clubroot takes hold in brassicas like cabbage, cauliflower, turnips and brussel sprouts. This infection causes roots to well and become distorted, and result in purple foliage and stunted growth. To avoid this, ensure there’s good drainage available. 

Anthracnose – Identified by the small, sunket spots that appear on fruit and pods with pinkish sores in the centre, anthracnose is common with tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and melons. Keep it at bay by ensuring your soil is healthy with regularly composting feeds. 

An Organic Solution For Treating Fungus And Mildew

Whether you’re on the hunt for more tips with how to start organic gardening at home, or further insights regarding an alternative for chemical based plant food, fertilisers or weed killers – then it’s always worth speaking to the professionals, as there is another way in regards to treating fungus and mildew at home. 

Here at Bioweed, we specialise in environmentally friendly gardening products, including herbicides, plant probiotics, and natural alternatives to traditional gardening solutions. Should you have any questions about how to improve the sustainability of your home, garden or agricultural crop, get in touch with us today.