4 Common Plant Diseases in Memphis and How to Prevent or Treat Them

A Memphis, TN or North MS landscape without trees, shrubs, and plants would be pretty barren. That’s why they are the heroes of your yards. And while you may think nothing can hurt your plants, that’s not always true.

Trees, shrubs, and plants can be susceptible to plant diseases.

Plants are natural parts of your home landscape. But to keep them looking their best takes proper care. You don’t want them to lose color or leaves or appear as if they are unwell.

Whether you recognize that your plants aren’t looking well or you’re concerned about their overall health, figuring out what’s wrong can seem like a research project.

The last thing you need is to spend time you don’t have learning about your plant’s problems while they continue to decline.

Let’s look at plant fungal infections and how to treat plant diseases so that you can better understand and recognize plant diseases in your home landscape.

Plant Disease Identification in Memphis, TN and North MS

Diagnosing a plant disease is not an easy task. It takes the eyes and expertise of a professional.

However, this list of common plant fungal infections can help you better identify whether you need assistance or treatment.

1. Root Rot

Root rot is a fungal infection in plants, characterized by decay. You might not see where the damage originates – in the roots – but you may notice yellowing or browning leaves, or plants that fail to thrive, and wonder what’s going on.

The most common reason this issue arises is improper watering.

In fact, many people will see dying leaves and assume the plant is underwatered, so they water it heavily, which makes the root rot worse.

Root rot can be caused by several different fungi. Pythium and Phytophthora are particularly common and damaging.

2. Bacterial Leaf Spot

Seeing red or purple spots on your plant’s leaves? This plant disease could be bacterial leaf spot.

Properly watering your plants is important to avoiding this spotty issue. Particularly, it’s crucial to avoid overhead watering; opt for drip irrigation instead.

This disease can also impact plants that have been planted outside of the proper climate or hardiness zone.

3. Powdery Mildew

When powdery mildew strikes, you’ll first see isolated patches of whitish, powdery growth on the surfaces of your plant’s leaves.

Over time, if the conditions persist, this plant disease can become more severe and may cover the entire leaf or plant.

This disease tends to show up in shaded areas and when higher amounts of moisture are present. Moderate air temperatures and high humidity, particularly in the absence of good air circulation, create favorable conditions.

Properly watering your plants with drip irrigation or irrigation targeted at the roots and avoiding overhead irrigation can help you avoid powdery mildew. Early morning watering can help your plant dry out thoroughly in between waterings.

4. Shot Hole Fungus

Shot hole fungus – also called Coryneum blight – is a serious plant disease that creates BB-sized holes in plant leaves.

This one is often mistaken for insects because the holes look like something burrowed through the leaf, as if the leaf has been shot. You often see this one in cherries and laurels.

This one is tough to control. Properly managing shot hole fungus with fungicide treatments done by a professional can help.

How to Treat Plant Diseases: Plant Health Care

Opting for plant health care services is a great way to stay ahead of plant diseases and other potential issues that can negatively impact the future of your trees and shrubs.

Early control or prevention is key to avoiding prolonged damage. Lawn & Pest Solutions’ experienced technicians scout for not only insects and diseases, but also the cultural practices that people often overlook, which can mimic plant diseases or cause as much damage as any disease.

Some of these issues can include mulching too heavily, damage from string trimmers around the base of trees, or improper planting techniques (such as planting too high or too low).

A good plant healthcare service should provide you with feedback at each service visit, so you know how your plants are doing and are aware of any potential issues.

Stop Plant Diseases Before They Start

Ignoring plant health care is never a good idea. It can be more costly than paying to prevent issues. Once your trees and shrubs succumb to plant diseases or other stresses, the money, time, and stress it causes you can certainly add up.

Chances are, you’ve invested in your Memphis, TN or North MS landscape. Protecting that investment is important.

Not sure where to start? Contact Lawn & Pest Solutions. We can take care of these key assets in your landscape with complete plant health care services. The result will be plants that add to your property rather than detract from it.

Want to improve the health of your trees and shrubs and create a happier overall landscape in Memphis, TN, and North MS? Lawn & Pest Solutions can help. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we’ll customize a plan that gives you the most attractive landscape on the block.

Image Source | Powdery Mildew, Shot Hole Fungus