They also secrete a sticky substance called honeydew that often results in the colonization of an ugly sooty black fungus. They feed by piercing plants and sucking the juice of plant sap result in leaves being distored, curled and failing to develop. They come in shades of green, red or brown and they all have fat little pear shaped bodies. Small sucking insects usually found on new growth. Sprinkle granular cutworm bait over before planting.

These green-grey or brown soil living caterpillar maybe 2 inches long.They gnaw both roots ans stems ,but their tell-tale effect is to sever seedlings and young bedding plants at ground level.When this happen look for and destroy the cutworms near the attached plants. Put down snail bait immediately after planting and re-apply until plants are older and well established. Avoid planting pansies during late summer hot months.Ĭauses holes in the leaves of young plants and can chew right through the stems of newly planted seedlings.Damage is worst on shady ,poorly drained site. The symptoms with seedlings are stunting and a pale green to yellow discoloration of leaves.Ĭrop rotation is recommended for the management of black root disease. This disease is a problem on pansies during the late summer months when temperatures are high.

It is also important to raise flat planting areas so that the water will drain off rapidly and not saturates soils.īlack Root: Black Root is the fungal disease that usually starts at root tips and through root hair.

Allow the top 1/2 to 1 inch of soil to dry out before next watering.

Improve soil drainage – the disease is associated with heavy clay soils.

do not pull out Pansies and plant Petunias or Snapdragons, but use plants like Marigolds, Zinnia, Poppies, Calendula, etc.

Crop rotation is recommended for the management of Phytophthora, but do not alternate planting with the above plants, e.g.

The crown base or lower stem of infected plants normally rot at or near soil line, as the disease progress the entire plant usually turn yellow or wilting followed by complete death of the plants. The plants that are more vulnerable to this disease are Pansies, Petunias, Snapdragons and Violas. Root and Crown Rot: The problem is most often detected in flowerbeds that have been planted with same species year after year.

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