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 When we speak of
plant "culture" we are usually talking about those
activities that gardeners complete in order to
fulfill the needs of the plant. By keeping a plant
vigorous and healthy, we can often fend off insect
or disease infestations or, at least, minimize their
impacts. Cultural
options to help control plant problems would include
the following:
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Watering - Water is
essential for plant growth but the way in which
we provide it for our plants is important in
preventing other problems. Drought stress or
over-watering will weaken plants and make them
more susceptible to disease. Poor drainage is
often a precursor to root rot problems. Fungal
diseases are the number one type of plant
disease. These ailments are all encouraged by
moisture. So, avoiding watering onto the leaves
of plants may help to minimize diseases.
-
 Fertilization -
Plants need a wide variety of nutrients in order
to maintain health and vigor. Proper
fertilization practices should help avoid
nutrient deficiencies. On the other end of the
spectrum, over-fertilization may lead to other
problems. For example, too much nitrogen can
often lead to an over abundance of new, lush
green foliage. On some plants such as crabapple
trees this could encourage diseases such as fireblight.
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Pruning - Trimming
pieces off a plant may be helpful when you
remove damaged, dying or diseased tissue. On the
flip side, improper pruning can lead to health
problems too. Leaving stubs that rot into the
wood or which may act as
 an entry way for boring
insects can lead to problems. Pruning certain
plants at the improper time of year may lead to
loss of sap or invasion of borer insects. Some
diseases such as those caused by a virus or
bacteria can be transmitted from plant to plant
on pruning tools.
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Proper Site Selection
- Every plant species has certain requirements
for light, cold hardiness, soil drainage, etc.
that are vital to its health. By planting things
in the incorrect site conditions, we will stress
them and make them more vulnerable to insect or
disease problems. There is a lot of truth to the
adage that you should choose the right plant for
the right site.
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Proper Planting -
Many trees are killed simply because they are
planted too deep in the soil. Each plant has an
ideal depth at which it wants to grow. Planting
them too high or too deep will lead to problems
and possibly death down the road.
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