Re: hostas nematodes and etc.
- Subject: Re: [SG] hostas nematodes and etc.
- From: M*@AOL.COM
- Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2004 04:21:41 EDT
Foliar nematodes have been a problem in different sectors of the plant
profession for a long time. In the 70's and 80's the problem was greatly diminished
with the application of different and varied pesticides. But in the late
80's and 90's many of those pesticides were restricted or banned and the
"organic" movement set in.
They are easy to kill for the most part and control is possible, but
elimination is very difficult without pesticides. They can be killed by fungicides
and insecticides but these chemicals do not kill all of them.
For control it is helpful to know the life cycle of the pest. In the case off
Foliar nematodes they live and over winter in old leaves and in the soil.
They are know to infect hundreds of different species of plants that live in the
shade, so Hosta are not the main or exclusive group of plants that have
infestations. They start life in late spring in the soil or on dried leaf litter
from the previous year and when it rains they move out from the soil and old
leaves and "look" for live growing plants to move into. Once they find a leaf
they dig their way into the leaf and start to feed and multiply. Symptoms start
to show up as the populations in the leaves build up to a certain level and
their are enough to do enough damage that many cells die. When it rains or the
gardener waters many will exit the leaves they are in and move to new leaves of
fall to the ground and feed on fungi. In late summer and fall the leaves of
infected plants dry up and remain around the host plant or are moved to new
areas in the garden were new infestations can result next year.
Once infestation occures in a garden good clean up of all foliage that has
symtoms should be done to limit the spread of the infestations. As a genrale
rule these nematoids are not very good at moving around the garden, and plants
with nematoids can be infected for a few years while plants a few feet away
are not infected. Remove all the leaves that show signs of nematoids and burn
them or throw them in the trash- do not compost them. Clean up all weeds around
the infected plants and do the same. In the fall all leavesand stems from any
plants in the are around infected plants should be burned or thrown away
befor winter comes. This will help controle the spread of nematoids to other
parts of the garden.
If only a few plants are infected the plants can be removed and soaked in
Zero-Tol for 30 to 60 minnutes at a 25 to one ratio with water. This will kill
all the nematoids with in the plants.
Zero-Tolos a non metalic and non organic pesticed commonly used to controle
fungi and algia. Being nonorganicit is safe, exceptin its concentrated form
wereit is a strong oxidizerand shouldthus be handledwith cautiuionto keepit off
ones skin and out of ones eyes. Once mixed up it is no more hazardus than
hydrogen peroiid.
