Regardless of where you will buy the plants for your garden, you have to make sure they stay healthy from any disease all through their life cycle.
It is ubiquitous for any plant to get a virus if not well taken care of.
As an experienced gardener or beginner, you should know how the plant got the disease if it will spread to the other plants, die, and what needs to be done to get rid of the plant’s disease.
Here are some fantastic tips that you should keep in mind to keep your plants healthy.
#1 Examine the plants before buying
Getting rid of an unhealthy plant is done by not introducing it at all in the first place. Whether you are buying the plant online or in a garden center, examine it to ensure that it suits your climate or even your soil.
Avoid buying a plant with rotten stems, dead spots, or even a plant with insects. Do a proper examination of your plants to avoid unforeseen circumstances.
#2 Use yard waste that is fully decomposed.
Some materials take a while to decompose, while others do decompose very fast. Use what has fully decomposed as your compost pile.
To also, kill any pathogen that may be found in the materials, make a thorough compost pile that will generate high temperatures.
In case you bought an infected plant, taking it through this process kills any disease that can be passed over to your garden and after that to other plants.
#3 Keep an eye on your bugs.
For a plant to be damaged by bacteria and viruses, it has to have an opening where they all enter.
When a bug is damaged, that is when an opportunity is found. Some insects will transmit these viruses to the plant using the opening from the damaged bug and also spread the germs and bacterias to other plants in the garden.
This is why it is essential to keep an eye on your bugs regularly to avoid the disease being transported.
#4 Clean up in the fall
Whether you live in a moderate climate or not, it is wise to clean up your garden in the fall. This is important since you will be able to control all the diseases that are already in the garden.
Some viruses are known to spend the winter on dead leaves, which may damage the emerging leaves during spring.
Make sure to remove all dead leaves to achieve great results.
#5 Apply the correct fertilizer
Adding a lot of fertilizer to your plant can burn their roots and reduce their ability to absorb water from the soil.
This makes the plants more vulnerable to the stress that comes from drought, heat from the surrounding, and cold.
When you apply the right fertilizer, your plants will be more vigorous and manage to fight every disease.
#6 Plant disease-resistant varieties
Planting disease-resistant varieties are crucial since your plants will be able to fight off the diseases and not die once they are affected.
While buying look for the plants that are coded disease resistant. Seek advice from the nursery employees or any gardener on which is the best disease-resistant plant.
#7 Prune damaged limbs at the right time
The right time to prune your damaged limbs is during late winter. This prevents the disease from spreading to new growth. If you prune during winter, your wounded plants will be affected, allowing any infection to spread to new plants.
In case you are looking for tools to prune during late winter, always visit cozydownhome.com for the sharpest tools that will make clean cuts, which enable the plant to heal quickly.
#8 Choose and site plants appropriately.
This involves choosing plants that are appropriate for your area.
Choose a plant that is favored by your soil or even climate. If your garden is shady, select a plant that will thrive in that place, such as azalea. They will become resistant to every disease and will prosper.
#9 Water properly
A lot of diseases need water so that they can move and reproduce.
The way you water your plants will make a lot of difference. To avoid the growth of these pathogens, choose a watering method that will minimize moisture on the plant’s foliage.
If then you decide to water your plants using your hands, hold the leaves for you to water the roots efficiently.
#10 Don’t crowd plants
Avoid crowding your plants and always look out for established plants as they grow.
Crowding your plants will give the disease a platform to create their humidity, which in turn allows bugs to thrive.
Consider spacing your plants to allow air to flow freely, which will allow the foliage to dry very quickly and reduce the humidity in your plants.
Conclusion
Diseases occur in plants when you buy a plant that is prone to bugs, bacterias, or viruses that can readily attack these plants and if the environment is harsh enough to stimulate the diseases. Visit Kitchen Home for great tools and products that will make your gardening job easier.
Instead of waiting on the bugs to attack your plants, you can use the information above to control the pathogens and thus keep your plants healthy.
