Should I remove Rosemary from my garden? This is one question you should consider when faced with a garden infested with a plant disease. Rosemary (rosmarinus officinalis) is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is an evergreen perennial that grows to about 2 feet tall and features dark green leaves and colorful flowers. It has been known to decimate lawn grasses, but its edible leaves make it a tasty addition to salads and soups.
Rosemary thrives in dry, warm soil. In full sun, the plant will produce good blooms and dark green leaves. If you have selected a shady area for your Rosemary plant, the plant may need to be moved to a different location or removed altogether. Moisture will cause the black spot on Rosemary leaves to appear. Leaves turn black and die after being exposed to moisture for approximately two weeks.
The reason the plant develops this fungal infection is because the fungus attacks the dead cells on the leaf blade. As the infection spreads through the entire leaf blade, the veins and capillaries become swollen and the leaf drops black at the base. As new shoots sprout, they will also be black at the base until the fungus has worked its way through the whole plant.
While black spots on Rosemary leaves are generally harmless, the disease is serious and should be taken care of immediately. The spots on the leaf can spread quickly to other leaves or even entire plants if not treated. Although it does not spread to plants within the same general area, the fungus can easily spread to plants within three to four feet of the main plant. You don’t want to unknowingly spread this fungus to your garden.
To get rid of a black spot on Rosemary, you should first find out where the problem area is located. There are some ways to do this. One way is to just look at the leaf blade directly. If you see a dark spot in a specific area, this means there is a black spot on your Rosemary. Keep track of where the black spot goes on the plant so you can easily look for it when you next mow your Rosemary garden. This will also help prevent future occurrences.
If you find that there is still a little stain on your Rosemary leaves, you can clean it off using soap and water. Use a soft toothbrush to scrub the stain and make sure the scrubbing includes the area around the leaf blade as well. After you have done this, rinse the soap off completely. When you do so, be sure to use a new toothbrush so you do not create another circle of unsightly discoloration. Be sure to keep a little bit of soap on hand because you may need it to go on new leaves that you just dug up. You can also dilute bleach with water if you plan to use it to disinfect new Rosemary plants or cuttings.
If you do not want to wait for the leaves or stems to grow out again, you may choose to report your Rosemary in spring. Remove the plant from your garden and move it to a pot large enough to hold at least one plant. Fill the pot with some loosely packed soil and add some well rotted Rosemary leaves or shredded leaves. Water the plant well and return it to the garden for the summer.
As you can see, learning how to remove Rosemary from my soil is not too difficult. Just be sure to check on the condition of the plant regularly, keeping an eye out for damaged or dying leaves. New growth is fine – if you do not see any white growth at all, this means the plant is healthy but you should remove it anyway. If you do notice new growth, you may wish to remove it altogether because the new shoots are likely to produce black spots. Remember that removing Rosemary from my garden does require patience and effort! Enjoy your Rosemary!