“What is wrong with the leaves on my plants?!?” Not you! Stop blaming yourself. After having the winter of the century two years ago here in Wyoming, last year was practically no winter at all. What does that have to do with leaf disease? Those 20 below weeks we have had most years suppress all the molds, fungi, bacteria, viruses and their vectors – vectors being the critters of all kinds from teeny nematodes to grasshoppers and birds that can carry and spread the almost invisible life forms. I have not seen so many different – and WAY too productive – leaf challenges in 20 years of observation. But many of our problematic populations survived last winter with no challenge, and so they blossomed, so to speak.
This is a natural occurrence. All living populations have fluctuations due to environmental conditions. If they survive, they are generally stronger. If not, their genetics will not be passed on, and the stronger plants will have a level of immunity.
You can’t kill all the life forms no matter how much you mulch or dont mulch, water or don’t water, spray or don’t spray.
Observe, learn, support, accept.
The leaf fungus on my grape vines did not slow production. I still got 18+ pounds of grapes from the Mother Vine. When I bought the original vine , almost 20 years ago, she was categorized as disease resistant. And, as some of us are painfully aware, age can present health challenges. Once the grapes were all harvested, I cut all the foliage and infected vines, bagged them up in plastic garbage bags in hopes of reducing spore spread. Water at the base of the plant; refrain from spraying any remaining leaves. The added surface moisture will only increase spore production, and spraying wil spread them. As the cold temperatures of fall come in later this month or next, mulch (I have duck mulch available!) with clean hay, straw or grass clippings this year. (Yes, I usually promote poplar tree leaf mulch. But the grasses will not carry a spore load and will allow for more air circulation.)
And we will see what challenges the next winter offers, and the next, and the next, until we bodily join the mineral earth and all its life forms one way or another.
“When all necessary conditions are present, a situation or thing will manifest”… even leaf mold.
The Refuge Permaculture Center 