Some turf diseases can wipe out a green within a 24-hour period. Many golf course superintendents bring samples in to the center or ship them overnight. Citizens who are experiencing insect and plant pest problems are urged to contact their county Extension office, which has a supply of mailing materials. Sharon Littlepage W hen it rains, it pours. And if you're a farmer or home gardener, too much rain can be almost as bad as not enough, often resulting in a banner year for plant diseases and insect pests that can destroy even the most promising crop.
Excess rainfall can lead to problems.
Diseases such as damping off, blue mold, bacterial leaf spot, anthracnose, and root rot are more prevalent during cool, wet weather. Dogwood trees in particular have recently experienced the wrath of powdery mildew, a fungal disease that can weaken the health of some trees. Although most healthy trees can get over it without special treatment, those already stressed don't always survive. At UT's Plant and Pest Diagnostic Center, located at Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville and the only facility of its kind in the state, approximately 100 cases of powdery mildew were diagnosed by midsummer on dogwood trees and other plants like lilac, wheat, and tomatoes. These diseases can be prevented, says plant pathologist Dr. Alan Windham, but there is no treatment for a plant once it's been infected.