Antibiotics could
also be called bacteriacides since they are used to
kill these microscopic organisms. As a spray for
ornamental plants, they are rarely, if ever used
because only a small handful of plant diseases are
caused by bacteria.
Terramycin,
streptomycin, Bordeaux mix and some
copper products
are used in commercial orchards to combat bacteria
diseases. These products are generally expensive and
may not be available in small quantities for use in
the home landscape.
Fortunately, there
are only a relative handful of bacterial diseases
that commonly attack landscape plants. These would
include:
-
Fireblight is probably the most common
bacterial disease. It attacks succulent growth
and flowers on members of the huge
Rosaceae Family of plants.
-
Crown Gall - Causes the formation of galls
at the soil line of several species including
forsythia and Euonymus fortunei.
-
Wetwood or Slime Flux - A common disease of
elms (Ulmus).
