Plant diseases have much more potential for damage to our landscapes than do insects, and are much more difficult to control once they strike.  For this reason most control strategies are of a preventive nature:

• Resistant plants and plant varieties:  
  Study garden encyclopedias, seed and plant catalogs, and talk to nursery people and horticulturists when planning additions to your garden.  Choose those plants found to be the most resistant to disease in your climate.  Native plants are nearly always the most resistant to disease in our area.
   

• Cultural techniques: 
  In the vegetable garden, rotating your crops (not planting the same vegetable family in the same spot 2 years in a row)  is a good disease avoidance procedure.  
   

• Good air circulation is important to many types of plants.
   

• Avoid overhead watering late in the day.  Plant leaves that stay damp all night develop fungal diseases more readily. 
   

• Diseased plants should not be left around the yard or put in the compost.  Burn them or put them in the garbage.