Mildew moves on to my patch
A quick scout round the back garden this week revealed that everything is covered with a film of mildew.
As nice as it looks from the window, the sad fact is that it all looks rather tatty and neglected close up.
I had a good clear around the beds a few weeks ago but that's about it.
As we had such a wet sumnmer I decided not to water this year, and it's finally taking its toll.
Particularly affected by the powdery mildew are a clematis durandii, which produced its best ever display this year, and some nearby roses.
Using the invaluable Pest & Weed Expert by David Hessayon as reference, it looks like powdery mildew, although there is also a rose mildew mentioned, although mildews are a group of closely related species of fungi that are very similar in appearance.
Powdery mildew produces a white powdery coating on the surface of plant leaves and fruits and causes plants to become distorted, look unsightly and growth to die back.
You need to cut it off and burn it before it spreads, although mine may already be beyond redemtoion this year.
The powdery effect is caused by fungal strands throwing out thousands of spores.
You can spray, but I try not to use chemicals (although the idea of blitzing the allotment with glyphosphate to get rid of all the weeds is increasingly tempting).
The non-chemical way is to prune out infected branches slowly and put the diseased material into a container to avoid shaking spores on to healthy shoots.
Burn the cuttings.
Mildew is spread by the wind and bad hygiene, and caused by overcrowding, poor feeding, dry roots and hot days followed by cold nights.
Some roses have been bred to be less prone to mildew.
I have no idea what the one I have is which has been particularly hit as it's about the only 'inherited' plant left from the original owners.
It's very handsone, a peachy orange, great smell and dark green large leaves that are burgendy when young.
I'll have to wait until next year to enjoy it again though. Snip snip. . .
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Weather for Northampton
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -6 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
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Sunny spells
Temperature: -5 C to -0 C
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