Fungicide

When maintaining a lawn, there are a variety of elements that can try to hinder your progress or make it difficult to keep your turf and plant life lush and green. However, perhaps the biggest threat is disease and fungi. As a result, it has becoming increasingly important to combat fungal diseases with the help of fungicides.

On this page, you will learn about Fungicides, how they work, their benefits and what to expect when applying them. Here you can also shop the top Fungicide products we have in stock.

What is a Fungicide?

Fungicides are chemical compounds that are designed to control diseases caused by fungi either by halting the growth process of the fungus or killing the fungal pathogen.  Fungicides specifically target fungi and cannot eliminate bacteria, nematodes, or viral diseases. 

There can be a wide variety of active ingredients contained in fungicide chemicals which can assist in successfully achieving fungi control, and different ingredients will work for specific plants and certain diseases. Fungicides can also come in different formulations such as liquid concentrates, granules and organic materials.

The kinds of fungal outbreaks that fungicides can control include rots, spots, and rusts, among others ailments. Fungicides can be used in a variety of settings and had been used to treat lawns (turf & grass), gardens, and other plants, even plants found indoors. 

Some of the more popular fungicide ingredients include propiconazole, azoxystrobin, copper, chlorothalonil, Mancozeb, and others.

How Do Fungicides Work?

Fungicides can either function by attacking the cell membrane of the fungus, or via inhibiting an important process of the fungi that is vital to its survival. 

Fungicides are classified as either systemic or contact fungicides and also as curative or preventative fungicides. Contact fungicides are usually preventative fungicides and are not absorbed by the plant. Instead, they stick to the plant surfaces when sprayed and create a protective barrier that blocks the fungus establishing itself onto a plant and damaging plant tissues.

Systemic fungicides are regarded as penetrants and can be absorbed by the plant, moving from where the chemical was applied through the other parts of the plant. These are preventative and can also be curative, attacking the fungus directly to stop the disease after the infection has started or first symptoms are observed.

Benefits of Fungicides

Fungicides are an essential chemical that can protect harmful diseases and fungi that can threaten the health and aesthetics of your lawn and ornamental plants. Contact fungicides create a protective film over the plants you want to prevent from getting infected so no fungal pathogens can penetrate the plant.

Systemic fungicides have the added benefit that contact fungicides deliver but go even further by being absorbed into the plant tissue and traveling throughout the plant's entire system down to the root to protect against fungal diseases and suppress the spread of fungi, eventually curing the diseased plant.

Fungicides often work quickly and can remain effective anywhere from 7 to 28 days long so you wouldn't have to apply so often.

Drawbacks of Fungicides

Fungicides work best as a preventative before your plant is infected or shows any symptoms of infection. Fungicides depend on timing and are less likely to remove a plant that has been deeply infected and the infection is in its late stages.

On occasion, plants can develop a tolerance or resistance to certain fungicides. In such a case It's recommended to incorporate different modes of action by mixing different fungicides or by rotating products in order to achieve the best possible results.

Are Fungicides Safe?

Fungicides are safe to use when applied according to label directions. Always make sure to wear proper safety equipment when handling and mixing Fungicide with pesticides. This includes eye protection, proper attire to protect skin and in some cases, masks for respiratory protection.

Don’t apply fungicides in drought or in conditions that might prevent plant growth. Windy days can be dangerous for application, as the chemicals can drift to desirable plants and in living areas where pets and children might be. Keep kids and pets away from treated areas for a few days to ensure safety.

What To Expect

Whether you are using a preventative fungicide or a curative fungicide, it is important that you time your applications wisely. Ideally, this should be before you notice disease symptoms or before conditions become favorable for fungal disease. Timing of the fungicide application at the optimum times can enhance the effectiveness of the product and prevent the need for additional fungicide spray applications

When applying fungicides, pay attention to the interval listed on the label for your specific plant that you are treating and follow it carefully. Fungicides can deliver between 7 to 28 days of protection but that depends on several factors like timing, environmental conditions, the severity of an infection, etc.

Before planting, make sure that soil, water, and light conditions are ideal for your plant. Once the plants have been established, make sure to use the appropriate sanitation, fertilization, and pruning practices to enhance plant health.

Featured Products

Patch Pro - Patch Pro Fungicide is a systemic fungicide that contains the active ingredient Propiconazole and is designed to get rid of a broad spectrum of harmful and unsightly diseases on plants and lawns. Patch Pro controls many fungi and diseases such as brown patch, powdery mildew, and blight.