It seems our dry spell has finally been broken with a few inches of rain falling in the past few weeks- thank goodness! As we start getting even more wet and humid weather however, the prevalence of plant diseases will start to increase, as most pathogens prefer these environmental conditions.
I get daily updates reporting rust, fire blight, root disease, fungal growth, Pythium, and rhizoctonia, and other ornamental plant diseases from our ornamental plant pathologist as well as reports of southern blight, corn and soybean rusts, tomato spotted wilt, charcoal rot, and others from our row crop plant pathologist. If you aren’t familiar with these- they’re essentially all plant diseases caused by bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens, and all of them can cause trouble for plants. Depending on who you are and what plants you grow, some of these diseases will be more of a concern for you than others.
Some common problems in plants can be solved without the use of chemical control, but when problems reach a damaging level, the use of a pesticide may be warranted. Pesticides sold at your local farm store are safe and legal for you to use, but you are (by law) required to read the label and follow directions in their entirety.
First and foremost, make sure that you select the proper control method for the pest you’re having a problem with. Understanding the pest or disease and recommended control is critical to know before you get started. Once you know what problem you’re facing, you can then find a product for controlling that specific issue. Be sure to select a pesticide that is labeled for both the pest, disease, or weed you have trouble with AND the site you need to treat. For example, using a weed killer that is not labeled for bermudagrass on a bermudagrass pasture will most likely kill the pasture, not just the weed. Take note of signal words on the label such as DANGER, WARNING, and CAUTION, as they indicate the toxicity of the product. Before you start application, be sure to follow all label instructions on required personal protection equipment (PPE) such as liquid-proof gloves and shoes, long-sleeved shirts and pants, and any other requirements. Staying safe with pesticides requires you to avoid unnecessary exposure, which is precisely what PPE is designed to do. When you mix and apply your pesticide, be sure to follow the instructions for mixing and application rates- doubling the recommendation will not achieve quicker results and can cause adverse effects. Be sure to stay away from wells and open water when mixing and using pesticides. After using a pesticide, be sure to follow re-entry periods as stated on the label to ensure the safety of humans, pets, and livestock. If you have leftover pesticide, the label will have instructions on how to store excess, dispose of the contains, handle spills, and also what to do for first aid and poison control. Finally, be sure to evaluate the efficacy of the pesticide- if it did not work as well as you’d hope, be sure that you identified the correct pest, weed, or pathogen, selected the correct product for control, made your application at the correct point in the life cycle, and that you did not use old products.
If you need specific help identifying a pest, weed, or disease, your county agent is here to help! Contact us at uge3181@uga.edu or 706-359-3233.
