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Rehabbing Your Garden After Rain
From drooping flowers to an increased threat of pests and disease, repeated rain storms like the ones we've been experiencing can be punishing on a garden.
However, by taking a few simple steps you'll be able to get your yard back into shape in no time.Annuals
With so many blooms, the rain can be especially hard on annuals. Your first chore will be to dead-head any spent blossoms. Next, inspect your plants for any fungal issues. If you see signs of any problems, spray them with an organic fungicide. Lastly, apply a multi-purpose fertilizer such as Miracle-Gro or Neptune's Harvest once the plants dry out. Continue to apply fertilizer during your next few waterings to help replace blooms.
Perennials
In the perennial garden, tall varieties seem to bear the brunt of most rain storms. Seek out these varieties and give them support with stakes if they're on the ground. Just as with your annuals, you should then dead-head any spent blossoms and check for signs of disease. Plants like Phlox, Monarda and Veronica are especially sensitive to fungi, so make sure to check these thoroughly. If you see any signs of trouble, apply an organic fungicide.
Vegetables
Look for any rot among your vegetable plants and remove or replace them as needed. This includes any seeds that have not germinated during the rain. Pick off any yellow leaves from the remaining varieties and stake taller plants to get them up out of the mud. Finally, check your plants for pests and fertilize with an organic fertilizer like Garden-tone from Espoma. A common pest is cabbage moth, which is a little white moth that lays eggs on broccoli and cabbage. If you see signs of this insect, apply BT Thuricide from Bonide.
As always, the garden professionals at Estabrook's are here to help you out. If you have concerns about a particular plant or pest problems not covered here, please contact us before the issue gets worse.
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Indentifying and Treating Rose Diseases
The combination of wet weather and humid temperatures can mean trouble for your roses. However, by learning how to identify the common diseases that may affect your plants and treat them early on, their chances of survival are vastly improved.
Now is a great time to check for early signs of the common diseases listed below. We've listed some symptoms, along with remedies to help you combat these diseases, but please remember that the garden professionals at Estabrook's are always available to help you diagnose and treat your roses, so don't hesitate to contact us!
Black Spot
Black Spot is the most common disease of roses in Maine. The fungus has been widely distributed with cultivated roses and no real
complete resistance is believed to exist.Black Spot over-winters in infected leaves and canes while moving via wind currents or splashing water.
Symptoms: Dark black and sooty spots on the leaves that tend to be round and vary in size from pinpoint to quarter sized. The infected leaves will turn yellow and can drop completely from the plant. Black Spot attacks the plant from the bottom up.
Remedy: Remove the dropped leaves along with the other debris and discard. Spray with a fungicide known to be effective on Black Spot such as Copper Sulfate, Bayer All-in-One Rose & Flower Spray or Rose Pharm.
Powdery Mildew
Another prevalent rose disease is Powdery Mildew, which typically occurs with warm days, high humidity and cool nights.Symptoms: The leaves fold at mid-rib or are distorted and white or gray powdery material appears on the forming buds and leaf tops or undersides. Powdery Mildew will attack the plant from the top down.
Remedy: Pruning and removing the infected plant material is the first level of defense, followed by the application of a fungicide such as Bayer Rose & Flower spray. Gardeners who prefer an organic solution can use Rose Pharm spray or a mixture of baking soda, soap and water. Good air circulation and ample sunlight will also help the plant recover and are always important factors that will deter mildew formation in the first place.
Downy Mildew
Downy Mildew is a common rose disease that occurs under moist conditions and is found throughout the United States. All species of
cultivated and wild roses are susceptible.This systemic fungus disease is present in the soil and will begin to cause problems when night temperatures reach 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit with 85 percent humidity.
Symptoms: Leaves, stems and flowers may manifest purple to red or brown irregular blotches while dark, irregular splotches appear on the leaves. Advanced infections will have yellowing of leaves with brown necrotic areas and noticeable leaf drop.
Remedy: Cut back the defoliated plant and clean up the debris. Apply Bayer or Rose Pharm at the recommended dosage.
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 Wet weather means slugs. Inspect your garden and treat it with Sluggo if you see signs of damage. If rain has washed away your grass seed, regrade and than overseed the area again. It's still a great time to patch up areas of your lawn. Check your plants for aphids - thanks to wet weather and humid temperatures, they can multiply and spread quickly. Treat infected plants with Bayer Rose & Flower. |
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