Sulfur or copper based fungicides: Mix according to package directions and apply to a small, inconspicuous spot. •Plant out or pot up dahlias, cannas, calla lilies, caladiums and other summer bulbs. Others use baking soda: 1 teaspoon baking soda per 1 quart of water. •Deadhead sea thrift (Armeria), centaurea, centranthus ruber, dianthus, fringed bleeding heart (Dicentra exima), hardy geraniums, bearded irises, red-hot poker (Kniphofia uvaria/tritoma), catmint (Nepeta), herbaceous peonies, oriental poppies, pincushion flowers (Scabiosa). While this is not a solution for Nan's problem, it will work for those with slugs eating their potted plants. The problem appears first as a white to gray powdery growth on the leaves and stems. 1. Usually apply one application, followed by a second one in seven to 14 days. I have had some success in protecting container plants by applying a strip of copper tape to the upper edge of the pot. High nutrient levels in the soil can cause an increase in mildew growth. Some advocate using a skim milk spray: Using 9 parts water to 1 part skim milk, mix and put in a spray bottle. So-called murder hornets could find Pennsylvania a suitable home. •Fertilize Siberian irises, summer phlox (P. paniculata) and Shasta daisies with a light application of balanced fertilizer. Check for discoloration or damage after 24 hours. Old plant material can harbor powdery mildew spores. This, in turn, makes it difficult for the leaves to dry after watering, rain or even morning dew. •Apply summer mulch, two to three inches deep a few inches away from foundations, tree trunks and other plants. Keep the bed clear of plant debris and keep mulch away from hostas. The resulting offspring will not be the same as the parent plants. If you have slugs in an already-established garden, you can do several things to limit the damage: Encourage wildlife: Many animals eat slugs so encourage toads, ground beetles, garter snakes and birds to live in your garden. I had this same problem last year and tried to treat it but without much success. How to Remove Mold & Mildew on Garden Phlox. Nothing else in the flowerbed seems to be affected by the mold. If mildew problems become more severe, spray the plants with a sulfur-containing fungicide spray at least two weeks after the oil application. Give phlox what it needs to grow well. Spray in the morning, once, every other week. Q: My white phlox have now reached 15 to 18 inches tall. Shear back woodland phlox (P. divaricata). Apply a light coating to the leaves, tops and bottoms, and stems of the plants. And any damaged or dead debris should be cut off, cleaned up and discarded in the trash. Phlox (Phlox spp.) The slugs crawl in and drown when they are unable to get out. If you are planting hosta in an area where you know there are slugs, select plants with thicker leaves, referred to as substance in some descriptions. Remove all old plant material and mulch from the bed and dispose of it so that mildew spores don't survive over winter and reinfect the plants in spring. It grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 10, depending on the variety. •Pinch back helenium, chrysanthemums and asters to promote bushy growth and more flowers at two-week intervals until early July. Containers are buried so that only a small edge is above the ground and the traps are loaded about a third to half full of beer. Box 1260, Allentown, PA 18105. Trump vs. Biden in the Lehigh Valley: How did your neighborhood vote? Sluggo is one organic product that breaks down into fertilizer. Could it lead to underground bunker? •Cut back peony flower stems as the blooms fade. Send questions to Garden Keeper at grdnkpr@gmail.com or mail: Garden Keeper, The Morning Call, P.O. Powdery mildew thrives in humid weather when temperatures are between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Delay any scheduled fertilizer applications until the phlox has recovered from the powdery mildew infection. Cut back the phlox to the ground in fall after the plants begin to die back. However, note that resistant does not mean mildew-proof. Credit: Scot Nelson. •Prune back and clear out dead, diseased or unattractive stems. Jenny Harrington has been a freelance writer since 2006. Powdery mildew is a common disease of garden phlox ( Phlox paniculata ). Spray the plant with a horticultural oil, completely coating the phlox, before a powdery mildew infection becomes severe. If you, like Gail, already have phlox in your garden, you can combat the mildew but are not likely to totally eliminate it. Plant it in full sun to light shade. Cut Joe-pye weed back to 3 feet tall. Cut out infected leaves and plant stems as soon as the powdery mildew is noticed. Then the leaves discolor, often turning yellow or brown, and drop off. Any ideas? Cut your plants to the ground in the fall after the foliage has died back in the frosts. 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