How to Prevent Disease in a Shade Garden

We've always heard that prevention is the best medicine and that certainly is true in the shade garden. Disease can strike even the healthiest of plants, but by being vigilant and treating problems early, you can minimize or prevent this from happening in your beautiful garden.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Prepare your garden area properly. Good soil with the proper nutrients and no weeds can promote strong plants that fight off disease more easily.

2. Do some research and purchase disease-resistant plants. New types are constantly being bred to combat their susceptibility to problems. Since some diseases are common to certain varieties of plants, vary the types you choose for your garden. If one plant becomes sick, it will not infect the others.

3. Look for bedding plants that are compact and bushy, not leggy. Check for bright colors and avoid wilted leaves or a sickly appearance.

4. Follow the directions for spacing that is noted on the plants when you set them into the garden. This allows good air circulation which is important to the health of your plants.

5. Water the shade garden in early morning. Watering at night promotes disease by allowing the moisture to stay on the plants for longer periods of time. Allow the area to dry out some before working in it. Disease spreads easier among wet plants.

6. Inspect the shade garden on a regular basis and act quickly when you spot trouble. Dig up diseased plants and discard in closed containers. Do not use these plants in the compost pile.