Fungal diseases are the most likely issues faced by organic gardeners.
Fungal diseases can present themselves in numerous ways like both brown areas, or noticeable spots, rings, threads, or slimes.
Once fungi infect the lawn, they are usually challenging to treat.
The good news is that proper care practices help with prevention, and in the worst case, treatment; learning to apply a garden safe fungicide on the lawn can assist in eliminating any spores and to prevent re-establishment.
Learning how to use and when to apply a garden safe fungicide on plants is somewhat difficult for beginners. Getting some professional assistance beforehand can even assist to find out if using the fungicide on the plants is even needed.
If you think to use the fungicide, yourself, following the information on the product will help with effectiveness and avoiding future fungus problems.
Here are some simple steps to apply the garden safe fungicide application and restore the health of the garden.
Guide On How To Use Garden Safe Fungicide
Mixing Instructions
- Step 1: In a gallon of water, combine two to four tablespoons of fungicide concentrate from Garden safe brand. Shake the spray bottle vigorously prior to spraying to mix together and distribute the concentrate properly. You can skip this step if you are using a ready-to-use garden fungicide.
Application Instructions
- Step 2: It is best to use personal protective equipment to reduce your exposure to the chemicals.
- Step 3: You should spray your plants thoroughly, soaking both the upper and lower surfaces of the plant foliage. Mix the solution often while spraying.
- Step 4: To reduce diseases you should spray every 7 to 14 days, also at a high rate of water, for black spots, leaf spots, powdery mildew, or rust until the disease is gone.
- Step 5: For diseases that exist already, or a heavy insect load, spray every 7 days until the disease is under control. At that time switch to a spray schedule of every 14 days. It can be used up until the harvest.
- Step 6: Thoroughly wash hands with soap and water after using the spray.
Tips To Keep In Mind When Using Garden Safe Fungicide
For efficient and safe fungicide use, certain rules have to be followed.
Apply As Soon As You Notice the First Signs of Disease
While it is true that garden safe fungicides have a systemic “kick back” action, they may not truly eradicate disease once it is established.
And right at the point of infection being detected in the field, there are many other lesions just too tiny to see already wreaking havoc on your crop.
Surfactant, Extenders, Stickers
Do not include any additives such as surfactants, extenders, or stickers when using Garden Safe fungicide concentrate, as these products are formulated to work effectively without them.
Adequate Amount of Water
Mix the fungicide with water in an amount that will cover the plant sufficiently without running off the plant and contaminating the ground or wasting the fungicide.
The volume of spray increased as the crop increased in size.
Sprayer Nozzles
Aim the sprayer nozzles at the target, meaning the part of the plant most likely to become infected. Reduce airflow or speed to get enough fungicide on the target while reducing drift.
When the fungicide drifts it is not useful for disease control and it may infect non-target parts of the crop.
Garden Safe Fungicide Design
They are designed to control plant-damaging fungi such as:
- black spot
- powdery mildew
- anthracnose
- downy mildew
- leaf spot
- rust
- botrytis
- scab
- needle rust
- flower twig
- tip blight
- Alternaria
Time of the Day
Another key consideration is the time of day and the connection to temperature and humidity.
The higher the temperature and the lower the relative humidity, the greater the chance of fungicide volatilization or evaporation.
Spraying in the early morning or late evening, when temperatures are lower and relative humidity is higher, can help avoid this.
It will also help diminish the chance of burning the leaves.
Avoid Rainy Weather
Use this product if rain isn’t anticipated within the next twenty hours; this will help keep the pesticide from washing off the treatment site.
In addition, pesticides should not enter or runoff into gutters, drainage ditches, drains, or surface water to minimize environmental exposure.
Newly Transplanted Crops
Do not use the fungicide on recently transplanted crops until the root systems have established, stressed, or wilted plants; this also applies to plants with blades in which the veins have been killed.
Testing First
Also, without prior testing, don’t apply to well-known delicate plant variety such as:
- fuchsia
- impatiens
- some rose
- hibiscus
- ornamental olive trees
- or some carnation varieties
Also use caution on crops with soft tissue and leaf test burn in small-scale trials before applying.
Avoid Hot Weather
It can betray leaves and buds through application on hot weather days.
Conversely, applying this during flowering can also deter pollinating insects like bees and prevent the plant from producing fruit.
Final Thoughts
Garden fungicides have precise instructions. Using the right amount is just as unsafe as using too little.
It is important to follow the instructions entirely when you use any garden safe fungicide.
You want to think about how much, how to apply, and when in the year to use the fungicide.
Learn as much as you can about using these fungicides in your garden to help with any fungal issues.