The Standard

12 THE STANDARD STYLE / HOME & GARDEN / GARDEN
September 14 to 20 2014
What was
Noah thinking?
Dylan Wilson Max
The story of Noah and the Ark is one of my
favourites; the dove at the end with the olive
branch is a true testament to faith. However
with hindsight, there are some little crawlings
for which gardeners blame Noah. He gave
them a free ride!
Maybe what Noah needed was a couple
of “touts” calling the shots – maybe we need
another flood so that this time we can get it
right! I touched on aphids and thunder flies
last week, this week we want to touch on the
other general pests and diseases that made it
onto the ark “without paying their 5 Rand.”
Plants are resilient wise more advanced than
humans. You can chop their head, dry them
out and abuse them in ways that would drive
any human being to the grave, but you find
they still revive and in some cases come back
much stronger than before.
Fungi is to plants what kryptonite is to
Superman. Fungi is definitely the “uber”
bad guy in a Superhero flick. They have the
ability to actually over time form a protective
shield around themselves thus ensuring
that the job of destroying your garden is done
in a peaceful environment. They also spread
themselves around quite efficiently producing
large numbers of spores by using mediums
like wind, rainwater and animals to further
ensure that their life is replicated efficiently.
One of the signs of fungi is powdery mildew,
this can form on roses, lilacs, zinnias, grapes
etc... When you see a white powdery substance
on your plants without explanation, know that
the enemy is at work.
There are remedies for fungi. There are
“salad dressing” options I mentioned, however
it would be best to consult your favourite
agrochemical supplier and look for fungicidal
chemicals. A fungus can turn a lush palm tree
into a sick looking mess in a matter of months
and they do their most work during our windy
months. Fungi, not really Noah’s fault ….but
the jury is still out on this one!
Army worms and other caterpillars are getting
ready for the summer. Be on the look-out
for these, especially wedding venue owners
near farms. Remember what happens around
you will start happening to you when we speak
of pests and diseases.
Snails and slugs can also prove to be a
problem, especially with your more succulent
stemmed plants. The pests love the good stuff,
mainly all the nutrients located at the base of
the plant upwards from the roots.
In all the above cases prevention is always better
than cure. This cold spell might be useful
in delaying attacks; however it will get warmer,
be on the look-out for black pots, powdery
mildew and caterpillars. Treat them early and
save yourself the hassle in the future.
Till Next Week …Go with God…As they say
Papua New Guinea
Come and join us for a
wonderful day out at The
Annual Garden Show on
13th-14th September.
Come and get some ideas for your own garden by looking at the
exciting garden designsthat our nurseries and landscapers are
putting together.
Bring a piece of a plant you’d like identified or come and ask
questions about your garden at our experts Q&A Panel and listen
to a variety of other interesting talks and demonstrations
(all free).
The tea garden will be serving delicious teas and lunches,
with gluten and dairy-free options available.
For the kids there will be a fantastic Kid’s Zone (enclosed, shaded,
bottled water available, no water slides) and African Themes
Pottery will be there with a “Kiddies Corner” where your children
can paint and decorate their own piece of pottery.
Get Inspired! Get Gardening!