Using Fungicides to Prevent and Treat Common Plant and
Flower Diseases
 Gardening is a terrific
and relaxing hobby for many people that continues to top
surveys of favorite leisure activities. A garden usually
provides a soothing environment and healthy, attractive
plants, however, as it is with any living
thing, flowers and plants are vulnerable to
a many diseases and pest infestations.
Therefore, when trying to eliminate disease from your
garden, it's important that you use commercial fungicides
properly.
Just paying attention to the
condition of the plants in your garden you'll discover
is the best way to keep disease outbreaks to a
minimum. After you've been gardening for awhile, you'll
probably develop a feel for what is normal which will
make it much easier to spot any outbreaks before they spread
throughout the garden.
In
addition, keeping the plants in top condition is also
a great way to prevent disease. As with
people, plants that are healthier are better able to
fight off infection. The better the condition of your plants,
the more they'll be able to fight off disease.
Even the
healthiest plants, however, sometimes succumb to disease, so
it's important to be on the lookout for the first signs of
problems so they can be treated promptly. Symptoms like
holes in the leaves, black spots, white spots and wounded
stems can be signs of trouble. If you notice any of these
conditions, it's critical that you diagnose and treat the
affected plants as quickly as possible because an
outbreak of disease, or a pest infestation, can
quickly spread throughout the garden.
Many
of the most common diseases of flowers and plants are fungal
diseases and these diseases are best treated with a high
quality synthetic fungicide. There are a great many fungicides
on the market and we're providing a list of some of the most
popular and well known. If you're unsure of the nature
of your plant disease, you should seek the help from
the staff at your local garden center, or consult with a more
experienced gardener.
Also note that the
fungicide Chlorothalonil slowly dissipates with time, but the
other fungicides on this list are systemic. Their systemic
nature means that once they're applied to the plant, they're
absorbed into the foliage and the root system. A systemic
fungicide works to prevent and cure infection from within the
plant itself. Due to this property, you
should never to use a systemic fungicide on plants
intended for food.
Some of
the most commonly used fungicides
are:
Chlorothalonil
(Daconil) — Chlorothalonil is a multipurpose
fungicide with is used to prevent and treat common fungal diseases which
affect lawns, fruits, vegetables as well as many ornamental
and flowering
plants.
Theiophanate-methyl —
Thelophanate-methyl is a systemic fungicide that is effective
in treating many common plant diseases, including powdery
mildew and black spot.
Triadiemefon
(Bayleton) — Triadiemefon is a systemic
fungicide which is usually used to prevent and treat powdery
mildew and rust. It is also effective against some lawn
diseases.
Triforine (Funginex) —
Triforine is a systemic fungicide used to treat and prevent
common fungal diseases such as rust, black spot and powdery
mildew. It has also proven effective against some other
diseases of both flowering and
non-flowering plants.
Always keep in mind that when
your're working with any chemical, including
systemic and non-systemic fungicides, it's vital that
you follow the directions carefully and use the
minimum effective amount. Pay particular attention to any
warnings on the label and always dispose of unused
product carefully. Be sure you wear
protective clothing, such as a breathing mask, goggles and
gloves for protection while applying any fungicide as
well.
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