Anthracnose. Black spot. Rust. Downy and powdery mildew. Those are just a few of the fungal diseases that can ravage plants. But there are thousands more. Dealing with them can be a drag. Not dealing with them can be disastrous. Here’s what you need to know.

Fortunately, not all plants are prone to fungal invasion. But many popular plants – Coreopsis, crabapples, lilacs, Photinia, roses, and tomatoes, just to name a few — are highly susceptible, especially when spring weather is cool and wet, or humidity is high in summer. However, there are things you can do to minimize the likelihood of attack regardless of weather conditions.

Plants grown in healthy soil enriched with composted products (including those that contain Mycorrhizae, a good fungus) are less likely to be attacked by nasty fungal pathogens.

Plant breeders are constantly working to develop new varieties that are resistant to common fungal diseases. The information is typically found on the plant tag. Most new varieties of crabapples, for example, are far more resistant to mildew.

Overhead watering encourages fungal diseases, especially if leaf surfaces remain moist overnight. So try to water early in the morning, and water the base of plants rather than the leaves.

Numerous fungal spores reside in the soil -- some good, some bad. And when it rains or when you water, those spores can splash onto leaf surfaces. But a layer of mulch can go a long way toward preventing that.

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Avoid overcrowding plants so that air can flow around and through them. Stagnant air creates a breeding ground for fungi. Consider pruning the interior of plants to increase air flow within them.

At the first sign of disease, prune infected areas and dispose of the debris. Cut back to healthy tissue, sterilizing your pruners between each cut with a common household disinfectant. I use wipes containing bleach, or a solution of 10% bleach with water.

Signs of fungal disease include rust on leaves or stems, white or powdery mold, black spots, yellowing of leaves, curling or wilting leaves, dieback -- basically anything that looks out of the ordinary. Many of those same symptoms can be caused by bacterial or viral diseases as well, but fungal diseases are far more common.

Even if you do all those things, your plants may still succumb to fungal diseases. Enter fungicides, which can be either organic or synthetic. Organic products such as Ferti-Lome’s Fungicide 5 contain a bacterium that won’t harm honey bees or beneficial insects. Two other organic options are Horticultural oil and Neem oil. And in addition to being very effective fungicides, both also control various insects that prey on plants and are often responsible for the spread of fungal diseases. Spray early in the morning or late in the day when bees are less active.

Copper, sulfur, and zinc are also key ingredients in a number of fungicides, and they’ve been used for decades to control some of the worst pathogens. Keep in mind, however, that copper and zinc can be toxic to plants, so follow the label instructions to the letter. Bonide’s Fung-onil is an effective, broad-spectrum fungicide that controls a variety of fungi. There are also systemic fungicides, which are absorbed by the plant and provide lasting treatment.

Apply fungicides weekly once foliage begins to emerge as a preventive, or begin spraying at the first sign of infection.
 

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