Steps in Controlling Diseases in your Garden

1. Proper placement of the Garden is important. Choose a location which gets as much light as possible. Do not plant under or near a tree or next to a lawn.
   

2. Amend the soil with good rich alive compost. Apply mulch as needed. You should have plenty of earthworms. Dead soils have 0 earthworms. Choose the correct variety for your area. Heirloom varieties are stronger and more suited for organic gardening. Write to Abundant Life Foundation or Seeds of Change. See Resources Directory for their address.
   

3. Practice soil rotation if possible. Rotation of crops is suggested whenever possible. If a raised bed is used allow the bed to go fallow for one season. Amend with compost, rock dust and animal manure if available.
   

4. Use disease free seedlings and plants. Many diseases are carried into the garden. Be especially careful when bring potted plants with soil into the garden.
   

5. The stronger the plant the less the disease will affect it. Avoid using any chemicals in the garden. Avoid High nitrogen fertilizers.
   

6. Certain weeds are hosts to pests which carry the disease into your garden, therefore weed control of some type is important. Weeds also provide homes for many Beneficials so choose carefully.
   

7. Use Trap crops in addition to various types of traps which attracts the pests away from the garden.
   

8. Destroy diseased plants. Throw away in the trash. Do not compost since most backyard gardeners do not compost in big enough piles in which the temperature is high enough to kill of the fungi.
   

9. Avoid spreading the disease by cleaning your tools with alcohol in-between cuttings.
   

10. Avoid overhead watering. Use a soaker hose or a drip system when ever possible.
    

11. Do not use chemical fungicides. They only will cause more problems both to your health and the soils health.
    

12. Use a Garden Filter when ever possible. Chlorine will kill the bacteria in the soil and this will cause problems.

• If all of the above fail to control your diseases, then there are many natural disease controls which you can resort to.

      For more info on controlling diseases please GOTO Natural Disease Control Chart

last updated on March 17, 2013

andy lopez

Invisible Gardener

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