A gardening expert has shared how he tackles unsightly fungal infections on his plants during the colder months, and how you can easily replicate the method at home. Garden designer and TikTok creator Ish revealed there’s one natural item found in your kitchen that can be really helpful when fighting off the likes of black spot and powdery mildew in your garden.
Gardeners World explained that plants’ spores “overwinter” on fallen leaves, stem lesions and bud scales, and reinfect the plant the next spring when new life begins to flourish. If the plant becomes infected, its leaves will turn yellow, develop purple or brownish-black spots, and will eventually drop. These marks can also appear on stems.
Ish sang baking soda’s praises for its versatility when used to protect different plants in gardens, calling it “fantastic”. He said: “Not only has it got antibacterial and antifungal properties, but can be turned and diluted into a simple spray in order to protect your plants from all sorts of fungal infections.
“That’s like black spot, even powdery mildew, which can be such a pain, but easily dealt with.”
In a spray bottle add one teaspoon of baking soda per 500ml of water. Apply the lid of the bottle and give the solution a good mix.
Spray your plants very lightly once a week if they’re suffering from powdery mildew or fungal infections. Ish explained that the reason your plants may be suffering from fungal infections at this time of year is down to the environment and conditions, highlighting the impact of humidity and shade.
Ish said: “The best thing you can do is either snip away a few extra leaves to allow air flow through, and as a result it should help it massively. Also when you’re watering, especially now, water directly in the ground and not on the foliage.
“Creating less moisture means less chance of a fungal infection. But until then, you can fight it with this.”
Baking soda in the garden has many uses, but adding it to water can help create a spray to get rid of any mould or wanted black spot disease on plants. Add a teaspoon of baking soda and half a teaspoon of washing up liquid to half a litre of water in a spray bottle.
This solution makes a natural antifungal spray which can help target mould, black spot, and powdery mildew. The washing up liquid helps the solution cling to the plants’ leaves.
As an antifungal agent, baking soda changes the leaf’s surface pH, making it less acidic and harder for black spot fungus to grow. While the washing up liquid will help the solution to spread and stick to the leaves, helping to cover more of the surface of the leaves.
To prevent black spots from forming or returning, the Royal Horticultural Society explained that the best form of control is by avoiding pests, diseases and weeds, as well as good garden hygiene, and introducing “natural enemies”. It’s also best to get ahead of the problem before it can spread.
The RHS urged gardeners to collect and destroy any fallen leaves during the autumn, and to also pick off and dispose of any leaves that stay on the plant during the winter months. Gardeners should also avoid using fungicides, as this could reduce biodiversity, impact soil health, and have adverse effects on the environment.