Healthy roots are imperative when it comes to healthy plants. When your plants’ roots are struggling, it’s going to eventually show up above the surface and you’ll see your landscape decline.
A common root problem that we see is root rot, typically caused by overwatering and poorly drained soil. In this article, we’ll dive into stopping root rot….and more importantly, avoiding it in the first place.
We will cover:
What causes root rot?
What are the signs of root rot?
What to do if a plant has root rot?
How to fix soil drainage
How to promote healthier plants in the landscape
Making smart choices for your landscape can help you have healthy and thriving plants that you can enjoy to the fullest.
Root rot is a general term for any disease with a pathogen that attacks the roots of a plant. In our region, the culprit is often Phytophthora. Just as the name implies, the roots are rotting. Whereas healthy roots are white and firm, rotten roots are brown or black and mushy. They might also omit a foul (rotten) odor.
Root rot is usually a result of oversaturated soil. This can be due to overwatering or poor drainage. Often, it is a combination of both.
When water doesn’t drain well (due to compaction or just overall poor soil health and structure), then water will fill in empty space, and ultimately deprive the roots of oxygen.
In other words, it will drown your plants’ roots.
This will obviously take a negative toll on your plants’ appearance. In time, plants with root rot will die.
The impact of root rot is initially seen at the soil level with symptoms like mushroom growth and/or tar-black vertical streaks on the lower trunk . The soil might also appear soggy and fail to drain around your plants.
Root rot will eventually lead to symptoms in other areas of the plant like yellowing, wilted leaves, and a thin crown. Eventually leaves may turn brown and fall off. After all, a plant needs its roots for optimal health and survival.
When the roots are struggling, the entire plant is going to struggle.
Reversing root rot is contingent on identifying a problem in its early stages. Unfortunately, these issues are often identified when it’s too late. If all of your roots are mushy and rotted, it might be very difficult to go about stopping root rot.
Dealing with root rot will depend on what type of plant you’re looking to save.
If you have some small plants in the landscape and you suspect root rot, you can attempt to dig them up and carefully remove any visibly rotten roots. This should be done with sterilized pruning scissors. You can then reinstall the plant in your landscape.
Watering or spraying the trunk with a systemic fungicide can also help.
But keep in mind, if there’s an unsolved drainage issue, this problem is only going to reoccur.
The bigger concern is when root rot affects larger plants, like shrubs, which can’t be easily dug up. Your best bet is to attempt to correct the conditions. Since root root is commonly caused by overwatering and poorly draining soil, you’ll want to alter your watering habits and encourage better soil drainage.
As with any problem, making an effort to prevent it in the first place is optimal.
Sometimes fixing a soil drainage issue in a plant bed can be addressed by amending the soil with compost. Adding organic matter can promote healthier soil structure and overall better drainage.
Of course, sometimes it’s a more complex problem.
If you have a plant bed that is constantly oversaturated and holding standing water, it could be a grading issue. A low spot, for instance, is always going to be a problem. A significant drainage problem could mean a more involved solution such as regrading.
Keep in mind that gutters are sometimes a “hidden problem” for plant beds. If your gutters are emptying right by your plant beds, it could be leading to your overwatering problem. This can also cause problems with a home’s foundation.
Optimally, you want your gutters to empty further into the yard, where they won’t cause issues for your plant beds…or your home’s foundation!
If extending your gutters is not enough to solve a drainage issue, you may require more complex solutions. Many landscaping companies offer landscape drainage answers like French drains or other subterranean solutions.
While root rot is often a matter of correcting watering habits and soil issues, it’s important to keep in mind that many diseases can impact plants (and root rot is just one of them). Investing in plant health care services in Louisville is one way to help promote healthier plants in your landscape.
These services also help protect plants against common landscape pests.
When you invest in plant health care services, you can ultimately save yourself the time, aggravation, and money involved in having to replace trees and shrubs that have died as a result of preventable disease and pest problems. When plants are properly protected, you can save yourself from a lot of hassles and headaches of dealing with landscape problems.
You’ll also now have a plant health care expert on your side, helping make valuable recommendations in regard to the ongoing care of your landscape. This means letting go of worries associated with diseases, pests, and other problems, and knowing that your landscape is in good hands.
Not all problems are fixable, but with a plant health care professional helping you, you’ll get the best advice and know how to deal with problems that do arise. It can be stressful feeling as though you’re on your own in caring for your landscape.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
You deserve to be able to enjoy your landscape without worries. When you invest in plant health care, you can gain valuable peace of mind.
If you’d like to learn more about plant health care for your Louisville home, get in touch, get your quote, and get back to enjoying your yard.
