How do you get rid of fungus in the soil?

QUESTION: How do you get rid of fungus in the soil? – Eliza N

ANSWER: You shouldn’t get rid of all the fungus in your soil. The reason being is that most fungi are good for your plants.

Fungus is a naturally occurring element in the soil. There are many types of fungus but only about 8,000 are harmful to your plants.

I know that sounds like a lot, but it’s a relatively small number in comparison to how many fungi exist in your dirt.

For the harmful fungal issues that exist in your growing area, there are a few ways you can eradicate or keep them under control.

The first method to getting rid of harmful fungi is by getting rid of plants which are extremely infested by these issues.

These plants probably won’t bounce back and shouldn’t be composted. That would only further spread the issue.

Next, be sure to clean up your garden area each year at the end of the growing season. Like pests, fungal issues will use this as a source of shelter and food.

Fungi feed on dead plants and debris. By removing these things, you’re removing the food source. Therefore, the fungal issue should resolve itself as well.

Crop rotation is another great way to rid your growing area of fungal issues. Again, like pests, fungal disease develops in areas with the right conditions and with a food source.

If you don’t plant the same crops in the same location each year, chances are the disease won’t have a host. Therefore, it will die out.

You may also try covering your growing location with plastic prior to planting. This heats up the soil and should eradicate both fungal and bacterial disease.

One of our last tips is to treat your soil and plants with either purchased or homemade fungicides. Homemade fungicides typically include cinnamon, baking soda, or vinegar. Find a DIY recipe to help you rid your growing area of these issues.

If you’d prefer to buy a fungicide, this works as well. The key to using this method is to ensure you catch fungal issues early. This will stop the spread in your growing area and also save your plants.

The final way to get rid of unwanted fungi in your garden is by avoiding overwatering. Fungal disease thrives in cold, wet areas.

If you garden in areas with plenty of sunlight, plant in well-draining soil, and avoid oversaturating the growing space, the fungal issues shouldn’t have what they need to thrive.

These are a few helpful hints on how you can get a grip on fungal disease in your growing area. Be mindful, even if you bring in dirt to grow in raised beds or containers, the soil may still contain fungi.

In those cases, you may either get rid of the dirt and start over or use some of the tips above to treat the soil.

Hopefully, these tips will help you keep your garden area healthy and your plants thriving throughout the growing season.

More About Fungal Disease

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/signs_and_symptoms_of_plant_disease_is_it_fungal_viral_or_bacterial

https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/plpath-gen-7

https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/powdery-mildews-2-902/