Plant health detection can be a complicated endeavor. Understanding what’s going on with your trees and shrubs when there are pests, environmental stressors, and diseases all lurking can be challenging. But getting to the bottom of what’s going on is important.
There are many different plant diseases here in New England. And it can be complicated as some of these diseases can mimic one another (or other problems). While we love educating homeowners on what they might see in their landscape, it’s important to keep in mind that nothing beats having a professional eye on your property.
In this article, we’re going to focus on how to treat powdery mildew, which is a common disease that we frequently see in our region.
We will cover:
What Does Powdery Mildew Look Like?
What Causes Powdery Mildew on Plants?
Is Powdery Mildew Harmful to Humans?
How to Get Rid of Powdery Mildew on Plants?
Powdery Mildew Treatment in New England
Choosing Tree Care in Southern NH, Northeastern Massachusetts, and Southern Maine
We know that plant diseases can be stressful. You don’t want to risk losing your beloved landscape. But being educated on what to expect, and partnering with a pro, can help set you up for success.
What Does Powdery Mildew Look Like?
Early signs of powdery mildew include the white (sometimes gray) powdery spots that appear on an infected tree’s leaf surface. People sometimes say that powdery mildew looks like baby powder.
Other symptoms of powdery mildew include leaf yellowing or browning, distortion, and premature leaf drop. Over time, this disease can lead to decreased vigor and an overall decline in your plant’s health.
What Causes Powdery Mildew on Plants?
Powdery mildew is caused by millions of tiny fungal spores. The wind can carry these spores from infected plants to others, including veggies, as far as hundreds of miles away. Insects and water can also play a role in spreading this disease to other plants in your landscape.
Like other fungal diseases, the weather conditions also have an impact. Powdery mildew prefers cool nights and high humidity. It can also thrive in shade. In fact, young trees in heavy shade are typically the most seriously impacted by this disease which can attack many different types of plants.
Is Powdery Mildew Harmful to Humans?
Sometimes people find the appearance of powdery mildew in their landscape alarming, but this disease is not generally considered harmful to humans. That being said, there could be cases of allergic reactions if you are sensitive to mold.
How to Get Rid of Powdery Mildew on Plants?
If you have found this disease in your landscape, you want to know how to treat powdery mildew.
There are fungicides that can be effective on this disease. At Seacoast Tree Care, we will treat powdery mildew as we see it in the landscape. This is typically in the mid-summer, when conditions are optimal for it to grow and spread.
Powdery Mildew Treatment in New England
Working with a tree care specialist that offers disease treatments is a great way to ensure the ongoing health of your landscape. Powdery mildew is just one of many potential diseases that can wreak havoc if left unchecked.
Spotting tree diseases as early as possible is important. As you might imagine, tree diseases are most easily managed in their early stages. Any time that you can get ahead of a problem before it becomes more severe is optimal.
Often, fungicides can be an effective course of action. But sometimes proper pruning can also come into play. You’ll want to make sure that any diseased areas are pruned out with a sterilized tool to prevent the further spread of certain tree diseases.
It’s important to work with a tree care professional who has the horticultural knowledge and experience to make the best choices for your New England trees.
Choosing Tree Care in Southern NH, Northeastern Massachusetts, and Southern Maine
At Seacoast Tree Care, we take the health and care of trees quite seriously. We view ourselves as trees’ guardians and believe that it is our role to help nurture and preserve their health. We provide tree care and plant health care services in the Seacoast region of Southern New Hampshire, Southern Maine, and Northeastern Massachusetts.
If you are already dealing with a tree disease, we can determine the best course of action that should be taken. But if you’re just looking to prevent tree diseases (we love your proactive attitude), we also have a plant health care program that can help.
While some tree diseases can’t be prevented, it’s important to recognize that a healthier tree faced with a disease is going to fare better than one which is already struggling. This is why it’s important to get connected with a professional program and make sure that your trees and shrubs are in good hands.
Ready for healthier trees at your Southern NH, ME, or MA home? Request your consultation and have your New England trees evaluated. By making a wise choice, you’ll know your trees are in good hands.
Images Sources: early powdery mildew, advanced powdery mildew, white powder on leaf
