Low Maintenance Gardening

 Low Maintenance does not mean low impact. It means choosing surfaces and ground covers that don’t require a regular attention, and plants that remain within their allotted space and look good without regular pruning or hacking back. Plants are chosen that require spraying almost as a matter of routine to control pests diseases.Read Complete Story Here Low Maintenance Gardening

Vegetable Weevil

 Scientific name of Vegetable Weevil is listroderes difficilis
Region; Vegetable Weevil is founded in Australia and North America (subtropical areas).
Description; the adult is gray to brown beetle about 8mm (1/3in) long that lays its eggs on the stem and crowns of plants. The Larvae, to 1.2 cm (1/2in) long, are cream initially, turning green. Both adults and larvae cause damage.  There is one generation per year .Damage tends to occur in cool weather (usually in spring and autumn).

Damage; small irregular holes are eaten around the base of the plants by Vegetable Weevil . Whole leaves can be removed and holes eaten in fleshy parts around the crown of the plants. Root crops can also be eaten underground. Small plants and seedling can be killed outright.Complete story here ;Vegetable Weevil

Leaf Spot Disease

Definition
Leaf Spots, is a common disease on many Plant Can be caused by a range of fungi, Glomerella cingulata , Ramularia rebi and Spectoria apiicola also have their own entries. Leafy plants grown soft (as with nitrogen-high fertilizers) are vulnerable in wet season, especially if overcrowded. Leaf spot typically occur in spring and autumn.
Symptoms and damage
Brassicas; Older leaves show brown spots, with concentric rings of tiny fungal bodies, which carry spores. Sometimes these leave holes in leaves. On spinach, the spot are light brown or grey, with brown or purple edges. Ornamental bulbs, corms and rhizome; Dry, dark, sunken spots are appear on leaves; sometimes the whole leaf turn brown (especially in winter). If spots merge (for instance o irises), leaves can be killed. Hellebores; Black blotches appear on buds and petals. Rhododendrons; circular purple patches, which turn brown, appear on leaves. Weak specimens are at risk.

Plants affected; A wide range of plant affected by Leaf Spot.
Prevention and control
Vegetables; cut off and dispose of affected leaves from Leaf Spot. Thin plants to minimize the risk of further infection. Practice crop rotation. Spraying affected plants with a foliar feed can boost recovery. Adding potash to the soil before sowing spinach can reduce the plants ‘susceptibility to disease.
Ornamentals; cut off affected leaves and spray the plant with mancozeb. Rhododendrons; Boost recovery (especially if the plant has been severely affected) with a foliar feed and check that the soil type is appropriate (i.e,of a low enough pH and with and adequate humus content).Source;Leaf Spot Disease

Black Root Rot

Black root rot can affect large production losses in greenhouse crops. even though this fungal pathogen also has a very large horde range, the mainly sober troubles occur on pansy and vinca. Pansy and vinca plug infection has resulted in major plant losses.

Symptoms:

The black root rot fungus damages the root of the plant; in effect interfere with the root's ability to suck up nutrients. As a result of root injury, plants typically build up symptoms indicative of dietary anxiety. Yellowing of the younger growth is a common symptom. Root examination of infected plants usually reveals a lack of healthy, white roots; infected roots are usually off-white, gray or black, depending on the stage and severity of infection.

Control:

Control of black root rot can be not easy if the pathogen becomes established within the growing area. Pay harsh notice to hygiene. Do not use again plug trays or plastic pots. Store media in a place that is sheltered from pollution. Spot-check all plugs introduced into the growing area by carefully examining roots for healthy, white color. Stress has been revealed to very much improve black root rot. unfavorable temperatures, unwarranted wetness in the root area, too much levels of soluble salts and too much use of fungicides or further plant production chemicals have all been implicated in escalation of black root rot. Because plugs are vulnerable to a number of stresses, all plugs should be planted quickly as possible after appearance.

Several fungicides have proven effective. Use preventatively or at the first sign of infection for effective control. An acidic pH helps to manage black root rot; a pH range of 5.5-5.8 can reduce black root rot development.

Foot and Root Rot

Scientific name of Foot and Root Rot is Aphanomyces cutiches
Definition
A range of soil born fungi that attack plants, usually killing roots and causing stem to rot. Such rots are likely to occur where the same crops are grown year on year. Outdoor tomato plants that have not been regularly watered or potted on properly are particularly susceptible. Root rots can also result from irregular watering and may affect plants under glass. These soil-bon fungi can also cause other problem, such as storage mould, stem canker and damping off.
Symptoms and damage;
Stem bases turn brown or black. The leaves discolor and shoots die back, in sever cases of rot plants can collapse.

Foot and Root Rot

Plants Affected;
A huge range of shrubs and perennials, especially Micaelmas daisies (aster), chrysanthemums (chrysanthemum). Delphiniums (Delphinium) , Heathers (Erica), gentians (Gentiana), Lupins (lupines), Primaulas (Primaula); tomatoes, peas and beans are affected by  Foot and Root Rot.
Prevention and control
If the plants are lightly affected by Foot and Root Rot than water with a solution of Cheshunt compound.
Alternatively, lift plants, cut out diseased tissue and replant in fresh soil. Boost recovery with a foliar feed. Destroy severely affected plants. Woody Plants; if disease is not sever, cutback damaged shoots to some healthy material. Badly affected plants are best dug up and destroyed. To minimize risk of reinfection, replace the soil before planting to a depth of 30 cm (12 incht) for heathers, 60 cm (60 inch) for larger shrubs.
Vegetable Garden; Practise crop rotation, seed can be dressed with a product containing captan prior t sowing. Under glass; replace or sterilize the soil every three year if growing in open ground; use fresh sterilize compost (soil mix) in containers. Water with care since these rots often take hold as a result of faulty root action.origninalSource;Foot and Root Rot

Garden Webworm

Scientific name of Garden Webworm is Achyra rantalis

Region: Garden Webworm is found throughout North America, but growers in the Midwest and Southwest are mostly troubled by them.

Life cycle: This pest produces two to four generations every year.  Overwintering is complete by the pupae inside the dust.

Physical Description: Garden Webworm is 3/4 inch long worm is beam sea green with a brightness band and small dark olive spots.  It has quite a lot of hairs on each slice and hides within a silken tube on the soil.  The mature moth is brownish golden-haired with dreary and russet markings, and a wingspan of about 3/4 of an inch.  The eggs are laid in groups on the leaves of the host plants.

Feeding characteristics: This insect attacks bean, beat, corn, pea and strawberry plants by spinning light webs and feeding from within.  They fall on the soil when they are troubled.

Controls: Cut off and destroy webbed branches.  handpick feeding webworms, and crush those hiding in their silky-smooth tubes by stepping on them.  Various Trichogramma Wasps and the Spined Soldier Beetle are natural predators and can aid in controlling this pest.  If damage is intolerable and handpicking is too labor intensive, you can apply Bacillus thuringiensis or pyrethrum.

Rose Slug Sawfly

Scientific name of Rose Slug Sawfly is Endelomyia Aetbiops
Range; Rose Slug Sawfly is founded in Europe, introduced into North America
Description; The adult is a Sawfly that resembles a bee or wasp. The larvae are pale green caterpillars, up to 1.4 cm long, with brown head, Rose Slug Sawfly’s larvae feeding on the underside of leaves and eventually skeletonizing them. In shaded areas they may have also appear on the upper surface. There are usually two generation per year.
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