A Guide to Florida-Friendly Landscaping - Charlotte County ...

What AboutPlant Diseases?Many organisms, including viruses,fungi and bacteria, can causediseases in plants. Diseases can bequite specific in the plant speciesthey commonly attack, butidentifying diseases can still beextremely difficult. Often, homegardeners mistake environmentalor maintenance problems fordiseases. For example, Spanishmoss, lichens and ball moss are notparasites that should be killed orremoved; they are merely plantsthemselves. Another commonmisdiagnosis in coastal areas isFungal disease on petunia.mistaking saltwater damage fordisease. Irrigating plants with saltywell water can cause yellowing around the edges of leaves and leaf-dropstarting from the bottom part of the plant’s canopy.Photo by: Robert McGovern, UF/IFASWhen a plant does have a disease, the problem may be merely cosmetic ratherthan truly damaging to the plant. Examples are minor leaf spots or otherdamage to select leaves. Such minor aesthetic concerns are no cause for alarmor treatment. There are serious diseases, however, that can damage or kill plantsthey affect. Examples are mushroom root rot on woody ornamentals, fire blighton loquat and brown patch on turf. Such diseases can seriously damage theplant’s appearance or yield.Because diseases are difficult to identify, do not assume a disease is in the worksjust because of a plant’s appearance. Use a magnifying glass to look for insectpests that may be causing the damage. Also analyze maintenance practices forcauses related to visible symptoms. If you still suspect a disease, contact yourcounty's UF/IFAS Extension office for advice on how to collect and submit plantsamples for disease diagnosis and recommendations on the least-toxicmethods of treatment.Southern Plant Diagnostic Network:78