Are your plants being affected by leaf spots? This plant disease can be a real problem for gardeners, causing leaves to develop brown, yellow, tan, orange-red, or black spots [1].
Leaf spot diseases can eventually weaken your plants. But, there are some natural ways to get rid of or control the problem that are both effective and safe.
In this post, we’ll explore some of the most popular home remedies and natural methods that are best for your garden.
Bacterial vs. Fungal Leaf Spot
Leaf spots are mainly caused by bacteria or fungi. You can treat fungal leaf spot with a simple home remedy such as a baking soda solution, while copper sprays work well for bacterial leaf spot.
This article will also highlight other natural methods that can be used for both. If you’re not sure what type of leaf spot your plant has, take a sample to your local nursery and they’ll be able to help you out.
How to Get Rid of Leaf Spot Naturally
If you’ve noticed brown or black spots on the leaves of your plants, don’t worry. Below are some of the best DIY and natural methods to treat the problem.
1. Rake Up Fallen Debris
Fallen debris can have the spores lingering around, allowing them to overwinter and re-infect plants the next growing season. As such, take up fallen leaves and fruits.
2. Cover Soil With Mulch
When it comes to preventing leaf spot, the best thing you can do is cover your soil with mulch. Not only does this help keep the soil moist, but it also creates a barrier, preventing the disease pathogen from splashing back onto the plant.
This method is great for treating bacterial leaf spot as splashing water moves bacteria.
You can buy mulch from your local garden center, or if you’re feeling adventurous, you can make your own mulch from leaves, grass clippings, or even bark chips. Just make sure to keep it about 2-3 inches thick so that it does its job properly.
3. Prune Plants
Leaf spot can result in some defoliation of a plant [2]. So it’s important to nip it in the bud (so to speak) and take care of it as soon as you see the symptoms.
One way to do this is to prune your plants regularly. This means removing heavily affected leaves and getting rid of them. It might seem like a lot of work, but it’s worth it to protect your plants from further damage.
The fungus that contributes to this problem loves to grow in humid environments, so keeping the leaves of your plants dry is key. Not only will this improve air circulation, but it’ll also make your plants look nicer too.
4. Baking Soda
As mentioned earlier, baking soda solution works great as a leaf spot fungus treatment.
All you have to do is mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a quart of water and spray it on the leaves of your plants.
This homemade spray will help eliminate the fungal spores.
5. Keep Foliage Dry
Keeping foliage dry is key to preventing spotted leaves. This is especially crucial when dealing with leaf spot on houseplants.
A good rule is to water your plants in the morning, so the moisture will evaporate from the leaves. And if it’s raining, you might want to skip watering altogether.
Too much moisture can also lead to leaf spot, as the moist leaves provide the perfect environment for the fungal spores to thrive.
6. Neem Oil
There are a few different things you can do with neem oil. One is to use it as a natural fungicide for leaf spot.
You can buy neem oil concentrate for plants at most garden stores, or you can order it online. Just make sure to follow the instructions carefully.
Neem oil is perfect for treating leaf spot disease organically!
7. Space Out Your Plants
Not spacing your plants properly is one of the biggest mistakes you can make when it comes to gardening. Why? Because it creates an environment that’s perfect for certain diseases and pests to take hold.
Leaf spot, for example, affects a wide range of plants. It thrives in moist and shady areas, so if you have a lot of trees or plants clustered together, you’re more likely to see this problem arise.
The best way to avoid this issue is to space out your plants properly. This will allow for better air circulation.
8. Arber Bio Fungicide
Arber Bio Fungicide is a product that is effective as a leaf spot disease treatment. It’s made with all-natural ingredients, and it’s safe for use on vegetable crops, houseplants, trees, and shrubs.
9. ZeroTol HC
You can also apply ZeroTol HC to the leaves of the plant. It fights against most common plant pathogens and will help to eliminate or stop the spread of leaf spot. You can also use it to treat snow mold.
10. BONIDE Liquid Copper Fungicide
Another product that you can use to treat plants with brown or black spots on leaves is BONIDE Liquid Copper Fungicide.
It’s a copper-based product that you mix with water and then spray on your plants. The great thing about it is that it’s safe for use around pets and people.
BONIDE Liquid Copper Fungicide is available online and you may also find it at a garden center. Just go with the instructions that come on the bottle and you’ll be good to go.
Takeaway
If you have plants with brown, black, yellow, or even red spots on leaves, there are a few natural things you can do to tackle the problem. All of the remedies highlighted in this article are natural and safe for use on indoor and outdoor plants.
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