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#1
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Monarda Fungis / Spray
Hello again.
We have lots of Monarda in large beds spread around a large garden. I have never had trouble with the fungus, or whatever it is, that I have heard about, until this year. I am in the area of PA that is seeing rain *every* day since it was snow every day and what was our most lush garden ever is now starting to turn brown with this fungus looking stuff. It started on the Monarda, but is now starting to spread to the coneflowers, shastas, rudbeckia, comfortplant and more... and at an alarming rate. The nursery has suggested something called Comdaconil (sp?) that I have never used. I'm not that concerned about using chemicals, if that's what it takes to stop this now (at this rate I may only have 2 or 3 days to act), but I am concerned about it's effect on bees... will it harm them? I have a large vegetable garden on the other side of the property that is just now getting around to producing (as it took so long to get soil dry enough to work) and cannot afford to lose the bees. If it is not harmful to the bees... can I use it directly in the veggies, as I'm getting a bad fungus situation over there, too. In all my years of gardening, I've never dealt with this kid of persistent rain. It is not like it is way above our usual amounts... it's just that it is every day... the ground stays saturated constantly and I'm using boards to walk on when I get in there (as little as possible) as this much water is already bound to turn our heavy soil to concrete. The result is that everything in both gardens is getting sick, and I'm almost surely going to have to resort to chemical help. |
#2
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Monarda Fungis / Spray
In article , "Ralph D."
wrote: Hello again. We have lots of Monarda in large beds spread around a large garden. I have never had trouble with the fungus, or whatever it is, that I have heard about, until this year. I am in the area of PA that is seeing rain *every* day since it was snow every day and what was our most lush garden ever is now starting to turn brown with this fungus looking stuff. It started on the Monarda, but is now starting to spread to the coneflowers, shastas, rudbeckia, comfortplant and more... and at an alarming rate. The nursery has suggested something called Comdaconil (sp?) that I have never used. I'm not that concerned about using chemicals, if that's what it takes to stop this now (at this rate I may only have 2 or 3 days to act), but I am concerned about it's effect on bees... will it harm them? I have a large vegetable garden on the other side of the property that is just now getting around to producing (as it took so long to get soil dry enough to work) and cannot afford to lose the bees. If it is not harmful to the bees... can I use it directly in the veggies, as I'm getting a bad fungus situation over there, too. In all my years of gardening, I've never dealt with this kid of persistent rain. It is not like it is way above our usual amounts... it's just that it is every day... the ground stays saturated constantly and I'm using boards to walk on when I get in there (as little as possible) as this much water is already bound to turn our heavy soil to concrete. The result is that everything in both gardens is getting sick, and I'm almost surely going to have to resort to chemical help. I presume you have powdery mildew, which often does start on beebalms and will spread to whatever nearby is susceptible.No fungicide works particularly well for powdery mildew. Powdery mildew spoors are not highly competitive with other microorganisms, and the trick is to improve the population of benificial microorganisms around the plants. Fungicides have exactly the opposite effect. Fungicide kills beneficial fungus and other microorgaisms, without which perennials are further stressed, and stressed monarda in particular attracts powdery mildew. The thing to do is cut back the beebalms since nothing will "restore" the appearance of infected leaves. As it grows back, periodically spray the leaves and area with milk dilutedwith four or five parts water. This feeds benificial microorganisms that out-compete mildew and even feed on mildew, and it changes the pH conditions so that mildew cannot flare up again. Use the milk-spray on everything infected, and when cutting back infected plants, carefully discard (not by composting) infected leaves by burning or wrapping in plastic and putting in trash. Keep the areas of infection "airy" and thinned until the problem is under control. All past recommendations for controlling powdery mildew were swept away first by Brazillian studies, then by confirming studies Cornell and the University of University of Adelaide. The milk treatment is not only an "organic" method which assists rather than kills beneficial microorganisms, the effectiveness is VASTLY greater than sulfer, horticultural oil, or fungicides. Garden product vendors can't just sell you a bottle of milk, however, and are unfortunately too much invested sell you a harmful and ineffective chemicals, and are not apt ever to put up signs & advice that says "Don't waste your money on the harmful ineffectual chemicals we are selling," & won't want you to know how often the organic method is also the more effective method. If you're experiencng some other kind of fungus, however, dilute milk is not effective on anything other than powdery mildew. -paghat the ratgirl -- "Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher. "Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature. -from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers" See the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com/ |
#3
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Monarda Fungis / Spray
"Ralph D." wrote in message ...
Hello again. We have lots of Monarda in large beds spread around a large garden. I have never had trouble with the fungus, or whatever it is, that I have heard about, until this year. I am in the area of PA that is seeing rain *every* day since it was snow every day and what was our most lush garden ever is now starting to turn brown with this fungus looking stuff. It started on the Monarda, but is now starting to spread to the coneflowers, shastas, rudbeckia, comfortplant and more... and at an alarming rate. The nursery has suggested something called Comdaconil (sp?) that I have never used. I'm not that concerned about using chemicals, if that's what it takes to stop this now (at this rate I may only have 2 or 3 days to act), but I am concerned about it's effect on bees... will it harm them? I have a large vegetable garden on the other side of the property that is just now getting around to producing (as it took so long to get soil dry enough to work) and cannot afford to lose the bees. If it is not harmful to the bees... can I use it directly in the veggies, as I'm getting a bad fungus situation over there, too. In all my years of gardening, I've never dealt with this kid of persistent rain. It is not like it is way above our usual amounts... it's just that it is every day... the ground stays saturated constantly and I'm using boards to walk on when I get in there (as little as possible) as this much water is already bound to turn our heavy soil to concrete. The result is that everything in both gardens is getting sick, and I'm almost surely going to have to resort to chemical help. Sometimes you have to eat your losses. Sure you could go out and apply fungicides after every rain but it's really not worth the trouble. It is Monarda's nature to grow powdery mildew. And you don't cure fungus you prevent it. Not enough sun, plants too close together, damp site, excessive rainfall all add to the problem in their own way. |
#4
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Monarda Fungis / Spray
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#5
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Monarda Fungis / Spray
Thanks for everyone's suggestions. It's supposed to stop raining mid-week,
and I'll try to use that for some damage control time... but they've been saying it's gonna stop for months now and they've not been right yet :-( "Derryl Killan" wrote in message . ca... Hi Ralph Get your fungicide and a wetting agent (dish soap) and spray several times. You won't hurt the bees. Derryl "Ralph D." wrote in message ... Hello again. We have lots of Monarda in large beds spread around a large garden. I have never had trouble with the fungus, or whatever it is, that I have heard about, until this year. I am in the area of PA that is seeing rain *every* day since it was snow every day and what was our most lush garden ever is now starting to turn brown with this fungus looking stuff. It started on the Monarda, but is now starting to spread to the coneflowers, shastas, rudbeckia, comfortplant and more... and at an alarming rate. The nursery has suggested something called Comdaconil (sp?) that I have never used. I'm not that concerned about using chemicals, if that's what it takes to stop this now (at this rate I may only have 2 or 3 days to act), but I am concerned about it's effect on bees... will it harm them? I have a large vegetable garden on the other side of the property that is just now getting around to producing (as it took so long to get soil dry enough to work) and cannot afford to lose the bees. If it is not harmful to the bees... can I use it directly in the veggies, as I'm getting a bad fungus situation over there, too. In all my years of gardening, I've never dealt with this kid of persistent rain. It is not like it is way above our usual amounts... it's just that it is every day... the ground stays saturated constantly and I'm using boards to walk on when I get in there (as little as possible) as this much water is already bound to turn our heavy soil to concrete. The result is that everything in both gardens is getting sick, and I'm almost surely going to have to resort to chemical help. |
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