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Black Fungus

Gardening Reference » Gardening in 2005
by lynne22 on May 15, 2005 06:45 PM
I have a problem with some type of a black fungus. It is spreading across all of my landscaping rocks around my pool, and of course, has spread to my ornamental grasses, as well as flowers. What product can I use? Since this is probably over 200 square feet of landscaping, what application should I be using? Any home-remedies work? Don't really want to use toxic type of chemicals - UNLESS necessary. [nutz]
Thanks for any help!
by Longy on May 16, 2005 12:01 PM
Lynne, try bordeaux spray. AKA bluestone. Available from nurseries etc. Spray 3 times 7 days apart at the mix rate of a level tablespoon to a gallon of water. This will not harm your plants or animals but you should avoid breathing the powder when mixing it. Also, strain it thru an old pantyhose or similar after mixing as it doesn't dissolve too well and will clog up your sprayer.. Also milk is supposed to be a fungicide though i've never tried it. Consider too that fungus grow where there is too much moisture and not enough light. Can you change either or both of these factors? Perhaps by watering by flooding the ground so the rocks don't get wet. Otherwise water in the morning so the area is dry overnight. That's possibly when the fungus will spread.
by lynne22 on May 16, 2005 01:10 PM
Hi Longy - Thanks I will try the Bordeaux! Unfortunately, it is in total sun all day! So I don't understand how a fungus can even survive. It is only 2" of rock, covering over landscaping fabric. Not even many plants (as it seems to keep killing them off!) I do only water with a sprinkling can to avoid getting the rocks all wet. It is so imbedded in the rocks it would take a scrub brush to get it off! Never seen anything like it. Do you think this could possibly any other type of disease - live in Upstate New York.
by Longy on May 19, 2005 10:03 PM
Do you think this could possibly any other type of disease
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maybe it is Lynne. Can you take a bit of it to a horticulturist or a qualified nursery person and get them to check it out? It may be a fungus or a moss. Fungi are part of natures way of breaking down dead orgnic matter. Which begs the question 'what are they living on to start with".
Try the bordeaux on a patch but definitely get someone to look at a sample i reckon.

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