At 07:37 AM 7/5/04 -0700, randi sharp wrote:
We were discussing the effectiveness of various fungicides on Chinese
Elms as well as various appication methods and someone mentioned that the
chemical they were using suggested 'drenching' the roots.' I had been
spraying and since the fungus was spread by water fron one leaf to another
this sounded promising. When I asked what that entailed, they replied
"drenching" looking at me as if I was from another planet..so I asked you
mean to soak..as in imersion and their reply, "No....drench." So I left
it at that..drenching, now is that when one waters through & through with
the fungicide or is that more like an imersion? Or better yet, does it
matter? I would have thought that if the fungicide was systemic it would
not require 'drencing' however if the object is to 'soak' the soil to
eliminate spores, then perhaps a drenching is in order!

Randi

Drenching is accomplished exactly the same way that liquid fertilizer
application is achieved. You water it in from above as if you were watering
the plant, except you should do it when the soil is still wet (but fully
drained) so as not to waste fungicide solution (or fertilizer for that
matter) just getting the soil to 'relax' and expand to fully accept the
solution. Water it in until it begins to drain from the bottom of the pot,
thus saturating the soil and rootball. Keep the plant out of the rain or
irrigation until it needs watering again if possible for maximum effect.
Some fungicides will even come with directions for the volume of solution
to use for a given volume of soil.

Brent in Northern California
Evergreen Gardenworks USDA Zone 8 Sunset Zone 14

http://www.EvergreenGardenworks.com

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