As you take in the evening's sky filled with exploding fireworks, Mother-Nature has been creating the perfect conditions for fungus and disease to explode in your gardens! That said, here are tips for prevention!
Do not wait until the problems are there. Instead, stop in and let us help you select the right products to prevent damage to your investment. 

 

Here is what we are seeing, what we expect to see and how to prevent it from happening to your plants:

Powdery Mildew: You usually see it on older varieties of peonies as well as Monarda  (Bee Balm), but due to the high moisture we are also seeing it on phlox, lilacs and ninebark. Without treatment it will spread to your other plants as well. Treat with Infuse® or Rose Sheild® today! 

Blight: don't wait for blight to show up on your tomatoes. Use Copper Fungicide or Revitalize on your edibles.

Fire Blight: Morton Arboretum has

 noticed it infesting their Crabapples and put out a warning not to trim infected Crabapple Trees. We are also seeing customers coming in with it on their Serviceberry, Pears, and Japanese Lilacs! There is nothing you can do once your plant has it.

Wait until the plant has gone dormant

and then prune back affected branches. Be sure to cleanse your pruners with rubbing alcohol right after use so that you do not spread t his disease to healthy trees and shrubs in your landscape.

Black Spot on Rose Bushes: Occurs when water remains on leaves for long periods of time or are back splashed from the soil. Cultural practices to prevent Black Spot is not to get the leaves wet - use a soaker hose. This will not splash, nor will it get your leaves wet. Water in the early morning so leaves can dry. Chemical fix is to use Fung-onil.

Septoria leaf spot on tomatoes: This fungus can affect many parts of a tomato plant. It does not over winter on the plant but it does over winter on diseased leaf debris. Cultural practice is to not overhead water. Rake away all affected leaves at the end of the season and dispose of them. Do not put them in your compost bin. The chemical prevention is to use Copper Fungicide.

 

Blossom End Rot:  is not a disease or fungus but an imbalance in the levels of calcium in the

plant. Calcium is transported through water from the roots to fruit, so it is critical to have even moisture levels in the soil at all times. Chemical prevention would be to use Nutri-Cal for your  tomatoes, squash, peppers, melons, cucumbers etc.

Good rule of thumb: if its an edible plant, use Copper or Revitalize. If they are ornamental flowers and plants use Rose Shield or Infuse. 

Fertilize, Fertilize, Fertilize! Annuals both in the ground, in hanging

baskets and container gardens have had the nutrients  washed away with all the rain. Constant watering in the heat and wind also depletes the soil of nutrients. To get the nutrients back in the soil use what we use - Jack's®! It will keep your annuals looking beautiful and full of blooms all summer long! "Every plant needs a shot of Jack!" 

MOSQUITOES! It wouldn't be summer without them. Mosquito Beater comes in a granular shaker so that you don't have to add more water to an already damp situation. Sprinkle it early, before guests arrive so it has some time to air out and take effect. Mosquito dunks work great in birdbaths and ponds and will not cause harm to pets or wildlife.

If ever you have a concern about your plants, trees, lawn or flowers do not hesitate to give us a call, email us a picture or bring in a sample. We have a knowledgeable staff who can help!

Now for the fun stuff! I started to dig a hole the other day, because you just can't have enough flowers, but I had to quickly cover it back up because momma snapping turtle thought that was a good spot to lay her

eggs! I didn't get a picture because I didn't want them to be exposed to the hot sun or disturbed any longer than needed. BUT HOW COOL IS  THAT? In August I'll watch for the hatch- lings and hopefully get a picture of the little guys.