Powdery Mildew

Powdery Mildew Identification

Powdery Mildew is a fungal disease which affects lawns and many different plant species. The disease is easily characterized and detected by a powdery white substance which is seen over the lawns surface. The white powdery substance is actually the Mycelium threads which are produce by many plant fungal diseases.

How Powdery Mildew Spreads

Powdery Mildew can be very quick to spread over an entire lawns surface. It can initially be first seen as several spots on the sod which can often appear as dust. These small spots will then spread very rapidly and join the other spots together until the Powdery Mildew has affected the entire lawns surface.

Powdery Mildew is often first seen towards the end of the growing season, and most usually affects the most shaded areas of turf. Where turf eventually grows out into more sunny areas - the Powdery Mildew will often halt it's own coverage and stop spreading.

Powdery Mildew can be easily spread by lawn mowers, pets, shoes, bicycle tyres and literally anything else which can travel across one lawn and then onto another.

Control Of Powdery Mildew

While there are fungicides available for the treatment of Powdery Mildew, these are most often not at all necessary, and many really do not work very well at all.

Fortunately there is another method of controlling Powdery Mildew which is safe, effective and very environmentally friendly. This wonderful cure for Powdery Mildew is Baking Soda.

Baking Soda To Control Powdery Mildew

Baking Soda works so well to control Powdery Mildew by simply changing the pH level on the lawn or plant surface. This change in pH is totally incompatible with Powdery Mildew, and thus the fungus dies.

Mix up a solution of 1 quart water with 1 teaspoon of Baking Soda in a large spray pack or a watering can. Apply this solution liberally to the entire surface of the lawn. This method can be repeated until all signs of Powdery Mildew have disappeared from the lawn. Several treatments may be necessary.

Ongoing Control Of Powdery Mildew

While Powdery Mildew can be controlled rather simply and easily, like all lawn care it really is a case of maintaining good lawn management practices as standard practice throughout the year. This includes watering only in the mornings which helps to prevent and control all lawn diseases, not mowing too low, mowing regularly, and plant suitable high shade tolerant turf varieties in shady areas. Powdery Mildew is also encouraged by excessive use of Nitrogen fertilizers. Begin looking at using fertilizers with a lower Nitrogen level, and perhaps look at using slow release fertilizers as well.