How to deal with powdery mildew on roses

Mealy dew is one of the most common and unpleasant diseases that a large number of plants suffer from. It is necessary to fight it, because the result of a neglected disease is the death of a plant. Especially unpleasant, when the disease destroys the beauty of ornamental plants.

In this article we want to share recommendations on how to prevent powdery mildew on roses and what to do if it does hit the flowers.

What is powdery mildew dangerous?

Powdery gardeners, gardeners and flower growers are very often confronted with powdery mildew, because it affects garden, grain, fruit and berry and ornamental crops.

This fungal disease is caused by a number of pathogenic fungi. If we talk about roses, then they live on a mushroom called "Sphaerotheca pannosaLew. Var. Rosae Voron". As a result of its settlement on the leaves, stems and buds of flowers, the plant loses its decorative appearance, stops growing; his buds are deformed, not disclosed; leaves turn brown, turn black and dry up.As a result, the death of the flower can be observed. Even at the initial stage of the disease greatly reduces the immunity of plants, and they can not tolerate adverse external conditions, winter cold.

Signs of defeat

Symptoms in powdery mildew are quite characteristic: they do not confuse this disease with any other. With the defeat of the organs of plants covers the mealy cobwebby grayish-white thick plaque - mycelium. In appearance it looks like flour has been poured on the sheets. After spores ripen, drops can be observed on the plaque - it is from here that the name of the disease originated. Later, at the end of summer, the bloom becomes brown, and on the surface of the leaves, stalks, small dark brown balls appear - spores.

Usually, infection occurs in the first month of summer - it is at this time that the spores of the fungus, which had hibernated in the fruit body on plant debris, are released. It begins with the lower leaves, gradually capturing the entire flower.

Favorable factors for the spread of the disease are heat, high humidity, sudden changes in temperature during the day and at night. Usually, temperatures from 22 ° C and above are sufficient and air humidity is 60-90%. There are several reasons for the spread of the disease on roses:

• planting infected seedlings;
• wrong agrotechnology;
• thickened landing;
• a surplus of nitrogen fertilizers;
• nutritional deficiencies, in particular phosphorus and potassium;
• lack of preventive measures;
• the presence of weeds in the rosearium;
• poor air permeability.

Spores of fungi spread from plant to plant with the help of wind and water, as well as upon contact with a diseased plant. In winter, the fungus changes to weeds, and in spring it returns to roses.

Preventive measures

Of course, as with any disease, it is better not to allow it than to deal with its consequences. Therefore, preventive measures take the first place in the cultivation of roses. These include:

• regular inspection of plants;
• compliance with the recommended conditions for planting (soil drainage, sufficient distance between the bushes,selection of the site with the correct lighting, landing on an open area, protected from the winds);
• timely removal of weeds;
• Proper agricultural practices, including regular watering and compliance with the rules for the introduction of nutrients - do not overfeed with nitrogen and prevent deficiency of phosphorus and potassium, preference to give organic supplements;
• prophylactic spraying with special protective preparations;
• thorough autumnal treatment of the rose garden with the cleaning of dry foliage and deep digging pristvolnyh circles;
• choice for planting varieties resistant to diseases.

According to reviews of experienced flower growers, the five most resistant varieties include:

1. "Leonardo da Vinci".
2. "Wedding Bells".
3. New Dawn.
4. "William Shakespeare 2000".
5. "Rosters Yuterson".

Preventive spraying of powdery mildew on roses is carried out in the spring and autumn periods. Use preparations containing copper (for example, Bordeaux mixture, copper sulfate), with the addition of soap.For example, you can treat this solution: copper sulfate (15 g), green soap (200-300 g), soda (50 g).

Also used are 0.25% Benomil, 0.4% Zineb, 0.1% Fundazol. As a rule, the treatment is carried out in the spring before flowering and in the autumn after dropping the foliage, the interval between spraying is 10-14 days.

The root-dressing supplements to the measures for the prevention of powdery mildew should be carried out before flowering using a mixture of superphosphate (0.3%) and potassium nitrate (0.3%).

Folk remedies

At the first symptoms of powdery mildew on roses, it is necessary to start treatment with folk remedies. Here are some effective recipes.

Recipe 1. Whey (1 l), iodine (10 drops) mixed in water (10 l). Use for spraying the leaves and stems twice with an interval of 7-10 days.

Recipe 2. Soda (40-50 g), soap (40 g) mixed in 10 liters of water. Spray twice a week.

Recipe 3. Fresh manure (one third of the bucket) pour water (10 l). To sustain three days, stirring every day. Strain through cheesecloth. Dilute with water 1 to 10.

Recipe 4. Chopped garden weeds (half a bucket) pour a bucket of hot water. Stir and defend for two days. Before use, strain. Dandelions, celandine, coltsfoot, plantain and other herbs will do.

Recipe 5. Finely chopped garlic (80 g) put in 10 liters of water, boil. Cool the solution, strain and use for spraying.

General recommendations on the treatment of folk remedies:

1. Spraying should be carried out in the evening to avoid burns on the leaves.
2. Before each treatment a fresh solution is prepared. Such funds are not subject to storage.
3. Spraying is carried out at least two times, until the disappearance of signs of damage.
4. Before processing, it is necessary to remove and destroy infected leaflets and buds by burning.

Chemical attack

If folk remedies turned out to be helpless against powdery mildew on roses, it is necessary to move on to more radical control measures - to spray with fungicides: drugs designed to treat fungal diseases.

Today, a large selection of bio-fungicides and systemic fungicides is on sale.

Among the systemic fungicides most often used are: "Skor", "Fundazol", "Maxim", "Topaz", "Baktofit", "Fundazim", "Quadris".

In search of funds, than to treat roses from powdery mildew, gardeners resort to recommended bio-fungicides, which include:

1. "Fitosporin-M".
2. "Alirin-M".
3. "Hamair".
4. "Planriz".

These drugs are less dangerous to the environment than conventional fungicides, but they are also less effective and have a shorter duration. They will require more treatments than conventional antifungal chemicals. The rules and terms of spraying can be found in the instructions on the packaging of drugs.

Recommendations for the treatment of fungicides:

1. Processing carried out with an interval of 10-14 days.
2. It is better to spray in the evening.
3. Drugs must be alternated, because the fungus that stimulates the disease, can get used to the active substance in the composition of a particular means.

Thus, powdery mildew is one of the serious fungal diseases that many plants are exposed to. Unfortunately, beautiful garden flowers are no exception. However, having the necessary information about the causes of powdery mildew on roses and how to deal with it, you can keep it out of your rose garden, observing preventive measures. If it was not possible to avoid the disease, then use proven folk growers or fungicides tested by gardeners, and she will certainly deviate from your flowers.