Severe outbreaks of rust fungus can turn leaves yellow and cause leaf drop.
What Is Rust Fungus?
Rust Fungus Identification
Rust fungus is found on the surfaces of plant leaves in speckled masses.
The Spruce / Xiaojie Liu
Many types of rust fungus disease affect specific annual and perennial flowering plants.
The spores are spread by wind or water to infect healthy plants.
Different fungi will attack different plants and it can also attack turfgrass.
Instead, use adrip irrigation systemor a watering wand to deliver water at ground level.
Tips
Practicing good garden hygiene can decrease rust attacks and prevent plant disease.
If you see signs of rust, remove and destroy the affected foliage to prevent the spores from spreading.
Do not place diseased foliage into your compost pile.
Some organic gardeners swear bybaking sodato control garden fungus.
The efficacy of baking soda spray might be enhanced by mixing it withlight horticultural oil.
Control with Commercial Fungicides
you could choose several commercial fungicides to control rust fungus.
Look for commercial fungicides that contain these active ingredients:
Not all ingredients are effective on all rusts.
Proper plant spacing increases air circulation which enables plants to dry more quickly.
Overcrowding plants and dampness are the perfect conditions for many fungal diseases.
Rust fungus spores are not harmful to humans or animals.
The spores of rust fungus spread in the air and need a film of water to germinate.
Yes, it is an airborne fungus spread by water and wind.
Rust Diseases.Royal Horticultural Society.
7 (2021): 21-47. doi:10.3114/fuse.2021.07.02
Snapdragon Rust.University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Rust in the flower garden.University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Rust.University of California IPM.
Plant and Pest Advisory.Rutgers University.
A Comparative Study of Cultivated Asters.Chicago Botanic Garden.
Rust on Turfgrass.Ohio State University.
