Browsed by
Author: John

Rust disease on plants - prevention and treatment
Rust disease on plants – treat and prevent

Rust disease on plants – treat and prevent

What is Rust Disease? One of the most common diseases I see on plants that can even give powdery mildew a run for its money is rust disease. It’s easy to identify from the coppery-orange spore pustules on the surface of the leaves. In fact, many fungicides will even help prevent rust and powdery mildew simultaneously, and I usually apply fungicides as a preventative measure rather than a treatment. I’ve always had success doing this by spraying the leaves from…

Read More Read More

Honey Fungus - Treatment & Control
Honey Fungus – Treatment & Control

Honey Fungus – Treatment & Control

What is Honey Fungus? Honey fungus is a fungal disease known as fungus Armillaria. However, there are several different species, and it spreads underground through root systems. The bad news is that there is no treatment, but you can do a few things to help prevent it. Honey fungus is actually quite common and usually affects trees, other woody plants and even perennials. These include Birch trees, buddleia, California lilacs, Forsythia, and the list goes on. It attacks and kills the roots…

Read More Read More

Powdery mildew and how to treat and prevent it
Powdery Mildew – How to control and prevent

Powdery Mildew – How to control and prevent

What is powdery mildew? Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that plagues many garden plants, I personally have to deal with it every year on my Rhododendrons, Lupins, hollyhocks and cornflower and it’s more about prevention now rather than treating it, I find this is especially true with roses. Not to mention, many vegetables also get powdery mildew too. It’s probably one of the most common diseases if not the most common. It usually appears after a period of wet…

Read More Read More

Cercospora Leaf Spot - Prevention and Treatment.jpg
Cercospora Leaf Spot – Prevention and Treatment

Cercospora Leaf Spot – Prevention and Treatment

What is Cercospora Leaf Spot? Cercospora Leaf Spot is a fungal disease that’s not fatal. However it does spread quickly and seems to be more of a problem in shady positions. I have personally noticed the disease quite frequently on hydrangeas including the smooth, panicle, oakleaf and bigleaf types of hydrangea. How to recognise Cercospora Leaf Spot? This disease first appears on the underside of older leaves as irregular brown spots that might have halos around them. You may also…

Read More Read More

Identifying Phytophthora Root Rot and treatment
Phytophthora Root Rot – prevention and treatment

Phytophthora Root Rot – prevention and treatment

What is Phytophthora Root Rot? Phytophthora Root Rot is a fungal disease that spreads through the soil but there are several different types. Unfortunately, it’s actually more common than you might think, but it’s often mistaken for honey fungus as this also causes similar symtoms above the soil such as wilting and yellow/brown foliage. The issue arises as it is commonly associated with wet and water-logged soils. This on its own also causes similar symptoms as it causes the roots…

Read More Read More

Growing Wisteria frutescens 'Amethyst Falls'
Growing Wisteria frutescens ‘Amethyst Falls’

Growing Wisteria frutescens ‘Amethyst Falls’

Wisteria Amethyst Falls is a dwarf cultivar of wisteria and far less vigorous that the Chinese and Japanese varieties commonly sold in garden centres and nurseries. I personally grow Amethyst Falls in pots as it’s perfect for this as is such a compact variety. That being said, it grows up to 5m tall and 3m wide. Its blooms on strings of racemes grow down from vines in masses of blue-lilac flowers from late spring through to mid-summer. You can tell…

Read More Read More

Wisteria pests and diseases to watch out for including wisteria scale insect, vine weevil, mildew, Phytophthora root rot and more
Wisteria pests and diseases to watch out for

Wisteria pests and diseases to watch out for

Wisteria is generaly a problem free climbers with lack of flowers being the usually compliant or wilting and yellowing leaves, but like all plants, there are a few wisteria pests and diseases to watch out for. But as some of these cause the plant to not flower or to dieback they can’t be ignored. Here’s how to identify what’s wrong with your wisteria and what to do about it. Wisteria pests Scale insects Scale insects were first found in Britain…

Read More Read More

I discuss why your wisteria might not be flowering including incorrect pruning, to much nitrogen, not enough sun.
Why is my wisteria not blooming? 7 Reasons

Why is my wisteria not blooming? 7 Reasons

There are quite a few reasons your wisteria may not be blooming, from the type of plant itself through its location and growing conditions to how you’re treating it. A couple of the most common reasons are you have pruned it incorrectly and removed the flowering shoots. Too much nitrogen in the soil can also be an issue, as well as feeding them too much. Ideally, you should feed them phosphate fertilizer to encourage flowering. To learn more about these…

Read More Read More

How and when to prune wisteria to encourage more flowers and control the size
How to prune wisteria (why, when and how)

How to prune wisteria (why, when and how)

Wisteria is not a difficult plant to prune but its important its done correct or it can lead to wisterias not blooming as discussed in this guide. With this fast-growing climber, you do have to establish a pruning schedule and be sure to prune at the right times twice a year. Here’s how to do that and be rewarded with a wonderful display of blooms. Deadhead wisteria Though not technically a form of pruning, deadheading is the task of removing…

Read More Read More

Growing wisteria climbers in pots and containers, how to plant, prune and care for them
Growing wisteria climbers in pots and containers

Growing wisteria climbers in pots and containers

Growing wisteria in pots and containers is a bit tricky if you choose one of the more vigorous varieties of wisteria. However, I like to plant compact varieties such as Wisteria ‘Amethyst Falls’ as these will grow better in pots as they are naturally less vigorous. That being said, you can still grow other large varieties such as Wisteria sinensis and Wisteria floribunda. Wisterias grown in pots are great when grown as a standard (small tree), but you can still grow them…

Read More Read More