If you are like me and your garden has recently been infected with a pesky plant disease called yellow fungus, you will probably be wondering as to what is so special about this fungus. I have to admit I was actually curious when I first discovered the appearance of yellow fungus on my mulch. Then I remembered that I had once attempted to do the same exact thing and ended up doing more harm than good to the plant I was trying to protect. Curious to know more about this plant disease and why is there yellow fungus in my mulch? I decided to do a little research and here is what I found.
The reason why there is yellow fungus on my mulch and in turn your plants is due to the fact that fungi like to grow where they find the least amount of moisture and air. Fungi love the root system of plants but can also infect the leaves and stems. The easiest way for a plant disease to spread from one plant to another is through the reuse of the plant’s soil. Most people just throw their garden waste into their compost pile but it is important that you not just throw your garden mulch there as well. Even garden waste such as fallen tree limbs and leaf cuttings can contain fungus that is capable of causing yellow fungus on your plants.
The first step you should take to get rid of yellow fungus is to remove any existing fungi. This means that you will need to use a variety of different methods depending on whether you are dealing with an established fungal infection or just an occasional wart. I would recommend using a mixture of liquid soap and water to help disinfect the affected areas. Once you have done this you will want to spray heavily with your preferred weed killer (weed killer is not a substitute for bleach) and then let it sit for about one week. After this time period have the mulch re-applied and you should be free from the problem.
If you have a new growth of yellow fungus, you will probably need to seek out some form of professional advice and assistance. A commercial product such as Diatomaceous Earth (DED) will work wonders against the growth of fungi on plants. This specially formulated product will kill off any existing fungus on the plant while also protecting it from future invasions. Using DED will also prevent the new growth of fungi from spreading to other parts of your garden. The reason why DED works so effectively against fungus is because it contains millions of spores that are highly lethal to the plant.
Once you have gotten rid of yellow fungus by either using commercial products or by professional help it is important that you do not let the disease spread to other plants. This is the last thing you want to do as it can spread to other plants and cause more harm than good. Spores from fungi can easily survive for years in soil and eventually reach other plant roots and spread throughout the plant’s whole length. If you allow a yellow fungus infection to continue it can quickly overtake all of your plants.
To prevent your plants from becoming infected with the fungus, it is important that you clean your flower beds, vegetable gardens and lawn regularly. This will help keep the fungus in the ground from spreading to other plants in your yard. Make sure you never walk on the infected area of your garden or plant until the issue has cleared up. If you do walk on the fungus you may cause damage to the roots or result in an unsightly yellow spot.
Another way to keep your plants safe from yellow fungus is to not over feed them. When you overfeed your plants you will actually cause the roots to become weaker, which will make it more likely for the fungus to enter the plant and begin growing. Mulch is actually one of the things that you can overfeed plants. Mulch is like extra food for the plant and while it does help the plant to stay healthy it also allows the fungus more access to the root system of the plant.
To determine why is there yellow fungus in my mulch check the inside of the mulch to see if there is rotting. This might be the sign that the fungus has made its way inside the mulch and is eating away at it. You can also look for white spots on the mulch. White spots on mulch is very telling and can be mistaken for mold. It is important to remember that mold needs moisture to grow. If the mulch is not getting enough water, the fungus will simply continue to grow until you do something about it.