NO EXCUSES: PLANT DIAGNOSIS REVISTED

Nothing in the garden is really difficult. Everything can be managed by an ordinary imbecile; indeed that is why it is the greatest of all amusements.

“Henry Mitchell on Gardening” (1998)

“If you can see it, you can fix it. Curing a sick plant just doesn’t get any easier.” from the back cover of What’s Wrong With My Plant? (And How Do I Fix It?) by David Deardorff and Kathryn Wadsworth (Timber Press, 2009). The What’s Wrong book proposes so-called safe organic solutions for hundreds of common plant maladies. (Sometimes stronger inorganic remedies are noted where others may fail.) Perhaps this book is the missing link to our not so user friendly Pest Management Guide (PMG), although we have been “promised” editorial improvement in 2011.

This superlative book, written in three parts, is “guaranteed” to help every Master Gardener who volunteers at a plant clinic or telephone help line even without knowing the intricacies of plant pathology or entomology. Essentially the book is an easy-to-use visual guide to plant diagnosis and organic remedies. A word of caution is in order because you must be aware of the VCE liability issues associated with any book solutions outside of the PMG when you provide answers to citizen questions.

Part 1. “What’s Wrong” supplies clear illustrated flow charts, organized by plant part, that help to diagnose and identify what is the plant ailment. Additionally, remember to ask your client about the plant’s growing conditions, environmental factors, and when they first noticed the problem. Also, inquire about any prior treatment. Think of this approach much like those keys you might have used to help identify a tree.

Part 2. After diagnosis and identification, the next step is “How do I fix it?” using mostly natural solutions and organic remedies. This section is organized by a variety of causes such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and insects. Many color photos and illustrations help to determine the particular problem and then leads you through a treatment plan.

Part 3. This is essentially a summary section that also includes many color photos and illustrations of common problems. This is the “What does it look like?” section of the book. Indeed, as you may have heard, and it is true in this case, that a picture is worth a thousand words. Following this step-by-step procedure, you can be confident in your recommendations before you end up going to the PMG for the approved solution to the problem.

A glossary and index also help to rapidly find a suspected problem; however, do not hurry or jump ahead in the diagnostic process as some problems appear to have similar characteristics. This is why you always need to look for signs and symptoms. Trust the Grainethumb when he says you will want to have this book with you whenever your client asks….Please tell me “What’s wrong with my plant? And how do I fix it?”

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of VMGA, Inc., its executive officers or its members.