Dear Friends: A new blogger Rhonda Madison will be posting to The Garden of Roses: Stories of Abuse and Healing. Rhonda is a domestic violence survivors from Wallowa County and the author of a book for children about coping with domestic violence -- "The Toad and The Princess." Rhonda's post, "When the Disease Strikes the Beloved Garden" appears to me to be true on more than one level. It is about gardening, but is also about us survivors. We have trouble trusting when our trust has been so abused, but we may not have all the tools we need for healing all by ourselves. We need resources and help with healing to flourish and bloom abundantly. -- Virginia Jones
To treat leaf spot, mildew and scab diseases in garden plants begin with proper Ph soil. Test kits for Ph soil are available and a must first step in treating these disease. Soil Ph should be between 5 or lower or 7 or higher. Once this Ph is determined the gardener needs to treat the soil with the proper fertilizer to adjust soil to correct Ph. Commercial or organic fertilizers right the balance.
Once the soil is balanced there are both organic and commercial sprays to treat these diseases. Non-toxic treatments such as vinegar and water sprays, baking soda sprays and a multitude of plant based spray treatments made at home.
If the disease is severe a crop rotation plan is helpful in correcting the soil. Small grains, corn and alfalfa are all good crops to plant for rotation and cures for these diseases.
Correct watering and disease free seeds are the completion of the requirements for healing the soil and restoring the garden to healthy production.
Many organic websites offer a large volume of treatments for all plant diseases and many of these treatments are made at home using plants from the garden and flower beds as well as household items such as apple cider vinegar, soda, milk and certain oils.
Commercial treatments may require license or certification to purchase chemicals of some diseases. Being prepared to hire assistants if making the decision to use commercial treatments is a consideration for the gardener as this can add to the cost of treatments.
Gardening is fun and a great way to work out the body and raise food. Learning all the many ways to treat the soil and plants is a part of gardening and over time one becomes comfortable when a disease shows up. All disease stems from lack of proper care and treatment of soil and plants. Just as the human body requires proper care our plant world is at one with us in those proper care requirements. Happy gardening and may all your crops be disease free!
Copyright 2013 by Rhonda Madison.
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