 The combined effects this spring of melting snow, heavy rains, swollen streams, and saturated soils have produced widespread ponding of water in Ohio nurseries and landscapes. Conditions are ripe for the rise of the fungi; specifically, the root rotting fungi. In fact, most of the fungi which we collectively call root rots, find these saturated conditions ideal to overwhelm, infect and kill plant roots.
The big four rotten genera of fungi most often involved with root-rot death are Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia and Thielaviopsis. They thrive on infecting roots weakened by constant immersion in water. Heavy clay soils and/or compacted soils simply add insult to injury. Due to the poor root aeration and lack of water movement down through the soil (percolation), the roots are constantly in water and become weakened, non-functional and easy to infect by these fungi.
The best thing to do to help out plants is to get rid of the standing water. Yes, we acknowledge that is hard to accomplish when standing in a swamp; however, time spent now in draining flooded soil will be less time spent later removing and replacing dead plants. The next best thing to do is to hope and pray for mild, dryer weather to get rid of those pesky puddles.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 April 2008 18:22 )
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BYGL 
