Garden Spot - Creepy Sleeping Things - April 2005

CREEPY SLEEPING THINGS are beginning to wake up in Village and residents' gardens, along with our beloved perennials and deciduous trees and shrubs. These tiny inhabitants will wake up hungry and will begin feeding on new plant growth immediately, whenever they get the chance. While the process begins very early in the growing season, gardeners usually aren't aware of their presence until much later, when the obvious symptoms appear-black spots on leaves, yellowing of leaves, dying back of plants parts, wilting. By the time these major symptoms appear, it is often too late to do much more than reach for a toxic pesticide or banish the suffering plant from the garden.

The best approach to controlling these microscopic varmints is to prevent them from entering the plant in the first place. Most of them cannot enter a plant's system, unless an opening is provided for them. And sadly, gardeners often provide the necessary entrance. The following gardening tips will help ward of these undesirable visitors:

1. Keep plants healthy by providing the proper light, water, air, and nutrients. Remember that different plants have different needs. Also, if a plant is struggling, move it to a different place in the garden where it can flourish.

2. Practice garden sanitation. Always uproot and destroy previously infected plants to prevent diseases from spreading. Remove all infected debris and treat or remove infected soils. Always keep trimming tools disinfected. After each use, wipe with a disinfecting solution. This is a habit to incorporate into your regular gardening regime, not just when a disease is suspected.

3. Learn to prune all plants properly and always use sharp, clean tools. Dull, dirty blades damage plant parts and damaged plant parts are a Welcome Home sign for disease causing organisms.

4. WATER is a friend to both plants and pathogens, so learn watering techniques that will encourage the plant and discourage the pathogen. Always water early in the day. That way, excess water can be evaporated and doesn't stay on plant surfaces long enough to provide growing places for bad things. Always direct water to the base of plants. Leaves can "hold" water, inviting some fiendish fungus to bathe.

5. Try to keep activity in the garden to a minimum. Rough housing in the garden wounds plants, providing openings for disease entrance.

6. OBSERVE YOUR PLANTS REGULARLY. Be on the lookout for sudden and subtle changes in the appearance or behavior of plants. That way, if a bacteria or fungus or any other disease causing pathogen does get into a plant's system, a less toxic approach can be taken to control its growth.

7. If you do need to use a pesticide, consult with a garden center expert regarding the best approach with the least environmental damage, and read and follow all safety instructions on the label. That way, the gardener doesn't become a victim of this plant disease business, as well.

NEW THIS SEASON. The Village is offering regular, bi-monthly opportunities at both Village gardens and naturalized areas for residents to learn good gardening and native restoration techniques to engage in battle against common garden enemies, and to volunteer their time to help staff in their efforts to keep Lincolnshire beautiful.