Plant of the Month ... Pulmonaria!

Good Morning!

I started this series last month and today I am back with the next instalment.

The PLANT OF THE MONTH for March is ... PULMONARIA!

Pulmonaria (or Lungwort) is an attractive early flowering Hardy Perennial which provides eye catching colour at this time of year and will continue well into Spring. Perfect for woodland areas, flower borders and beds the clump forming perennial also provides ground cover throughout the year.
The variety I have and I am sharing photo's of below is called 'Silver Bouquet' but there are also other variations in strictly blue, pink and even white.
This plant is ideal for a first time gardener as you can pretty much leave it to itself for most of the year!

CULTIVATION 

Pulmonaria are ideally planted in either a North, East or West facing sheltered position and are happy on moist well drained soils that are chalky, clay or loam in part shade. The ultimate height and spread of this plant in approx 2-5 years is 0.5-0.5 metres.
Any tattered leaves should be removed after flowering and you can divide the plant every 3 - 5 years at this time or later in Autumn.



PROBLEMS
Pulmonaria can be prone to 'Powdery Mildew' during dry weather conditions. You can find more info on this particular problem at the top of the blog under the
'Problem Area - Plant Diseases' tab.
If your Pulmonaria is affected by this cut the plant down to ground level, feed and water,
the plant will produce new foliage later in the year.

HAPPY GROWING!
XXX

Problem Area - Plant Diseases ... Powdery Mildew!

Good Morning!

After a week's break over the half term I am back today with the next instalment for the series on 'Plant Diseases'.
Plant disease is a fungal, bacterial or viral organism which interferes with the normal growth rate of plants, producing visible symptoms that reduce economic or aesthetic quality.

The focus of today's post is a Fungal Disease and these have visible symptoms such as -
Leaves producing spots, wilting & curled leaves, dieback, enlargements (galls) and stunted / dead plants. Some fungi's produce other visible signs such as rusts, mildew & sooty moulds.

POWDERY MILDEW
(GREY MOULD)

This is a very common disease found on edible and ornamental garden plants.
You may have especially noticed it on your Sweet Peas and Roses!

Photo from Google

SYMPTOMS

Here are a few things you can look out for ...

- Powdery Mildew appears in early May as irregular white mealy or felt - like patches on the surface of young leaves, stems and flower buds. This increases during Summer and will remain active into Autumn if the weather is mild. Dry weather and heavy dew on a morning can encourage the infection. If you have Roses growing on dry sites against a sunny wall they are more liable to be attacked.

- Younger leaves curl and distort and may develop a discolouration i.e turning purple or yellow.

- If your plants are badly affected the foliage will wither and fall prematurely leading to die back of the plant.

PREVENTION 

Here are a few things you can do to help prevent this ...

- Incorporate organic matter annually to the ground and giving the surface of your borders a mulch reduces moisture loss from the soil, this will help the resistance to infection.

- Ensure that you give your plants adequate watering.

- Pruning your plants will remove most of the over - wintering infections on young shoots and the tops of stems, reducing the chances of the disease. If your plant is affected make sure you remove and dispose of any affected material right away.

- Avoid excessive use of nitrogenous fertilisers, these produce soft growth which is more vulnerable to attack and ensure that adequate feeds of Potash is given to your plants.

- Try growing plants that are advertised as being resistant to Powdery Mildew.

Chemical control can be gained by using a contact fungicide, spraying periodically. If you choose to use one make sure you follow the instructions exactly and avoid using when pollinators are around. 

I hope you have found this helpful.

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX