Last Updated on November 21, 2023 by Brian Beck
Immune systems as you and I know it do not exist in plants. They rely on a different mechanism to defend their tissues. They rely on beneficial microbes to accomplish their method of immunity against pathogenic microbes that spread disease. Almost all of the lawn diseases are fungal in nature. Plants have a very interesting method of fighting off these pathogenic microbes. The plants, if they are healthy, will emit pheromones that call out to predatory beneficial microbes. In essence it is a cry for help from the plant. What is the tradeoff you ask, I mean because no one does anything for free right? Well, glad that you asked, the payoff for the beneficial microbes are the production of simple carbohydrates that are the byproducts of photosynthesis. That’s right the Hitmen work for SUGAR! This is of course all works IF there are microbes to come to the rescue. More often that not they are not present. This would explain the huge need for products to treat lawn disease. I can also let you in on a little secret. The reason for the lack of beneficial microbes in the soil stem directly from the use of synthetic fertilizers, which contain inorganic salts, which kill off microbes and accelerate the loss of carbon, or organic matter, which is the food source for the microbes. So, in other words the us of synthetic products which are driving disease are also driving the use of toxic materials that are affecting your environment around your home and the greater environment in your community. Is there a better way? Yes. When you foster healthy soils, which include healthy microbes you can use biology to defeat disease and give the plants a chance to make that call to the guys that have the guns.
