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Needham's Nursery 12425 Hwy 70 Mt. Juliet, TN (615) 754-7076 -Plant Problems-
The area of plant problems is something we all must deal
with. Ones best bet would be to speak with either local nursery personnel or
contact the Agricultural Extension Agent in the area for advice on keeping
plants healthy and disease free. Secondly, always be on the lookout for subtle
changes in your plants. Are the leaves wilting or changing color when they
shouldn’t? If you notice changes and have questions, bring in a sample
clipping of the problem so we can help to identify it. Essentially,
there are four types of problems that occur within plants.
Bacterial
diseases
can occur in areas of high soil moisture, high humidity, and high temperatures.
This problem can also exist due to extremely high nitrogen concentrations
in the soil. Wilting of leaves or galls (overgrowth of plant cells) are some
visual cues to look for.
Fungal
disease
is common in the garden and can be controlled chemical sprays and dusts. Powdery
mildew is one such fungus. You can spot the mildew by looking for pale colored
patches on the bottom of the leaf. This will take nutrients from the plants
leaves, and eventually the leaf will become discolored.
Insects
are
another issue with plants. Insects such as aphids, leaf hoppers, and spider
mites (among others) can easily be controlled using chemical sprays (and some
can be controlled with an insecticidal soap).
Environmental
reasons can also wreak havoc on your plants. Cooler weather can cause leaves to
die back and drop. In the heat of the summer, water droplets upon the leaves can
act as a tiny magnifying glass and burn holes in the leaf. This is known as leaf
scorch. Planting the wrong plant in the wrong area, improper installation, or
improper watering/lack of watering can also cause plant problems.
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