Sage plants are relatively disease-free, but there are a few that can damage your plants. Most are caused by fungi that can spread through the soil, water, air, infected tools, animals, and even gardeners themselves.
Spot diseases on your sage plants sooner so you can treat plants before they are destroyed by disease and can successfully manage symptoms. Here is a three-step approach to keeping vigilant about the presence of sage plant diseases:
Sage diseases can affect the leaves, stems, and roots. Here are possible disease symptoms to look for to spot potential infection:
Make your own natural disease and pest control spray with benign materials. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon of a mild dish detergent, and 2 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil in a gallon of water to make a solution that will repel all kinds of bugs, as well as a fungicide for blight and mildew on the sage plant leaves. Shake it well in your bottle before spraying, and repeat every week for it to be continuously effective.
We’re believers in not using toxic materials in the garden—they can hurt the plants, hurt the soil, damage the environment, and harm you.
Alternaria Leaf Spot: These are small rusty spots or blotches with white or grey centers that you’ll see on the top of the leaf. Warm and humid weather make it worse. Remove infected parts and prune to improve air circulation.
Damping Off: Caused by a fungus in moist soils, this is when your sage suddenly wilts and dies for no reason. It could be because the soil is too moist, or because you have too much nitrogen in your soil. Sage can thrive in most conditions and doesn’t require excessive watering or fertilizer.
Mint Rust: When you see small white spots under the leaves that are raised before turning red or brown, you may have mint rust. This is from too much overhead watering. You can avoid this spread by separating plants in the mint family.
Powdery Mildew: This disease will look similar to how it will on squash plants. You’ll see an extra white or grey fuzz on leaves, and it will slowly kill the plant. Overwatering from overhead can cause this, and a lack of air circulation. Try pruning to add air circulation and reduce watering or transplant to a drier area.
Septoria Leaf Spot: Small grayish-brown spots on leaves that eventually turn black and die. The spots may also have a red color to them. Like most sage diseases, this can be avoided by watering less and providing more air circulation in your plant.
If you’ve noticed brown spots marring the beauty of your autumn sage, it’s likely suffering from a fungal or bacterial blight. While frustrating, the good news is that blight diseases are manageable if caught early and properly treated With some TLC and diligent care, your autumn sage can bounce back from a bout of blight. In this article, we will explore the causes, signs, and treatments to remedy blight on autumn sage
What Causes Blight on Autumn Sage?
There are a few common culprits that can lead to blight infections on autumn sage
-
Fungal leaf spot – Fungal pathogens like Cercospera, Ramularia, and Alternaria species can cause round brown spots on leaves in humid, wet conditions. This fungal leaf spot thrives in crowded plantings with poor air circulation.
-
Bacterial leaf spot – Bacteria such as Pseudomonas cichorii infects plants through openings or wounds. It spreads rapidly in warm, wet weather causing water-soaked spots that turn brown.
-
Root and crown rot – Soil-borne fungi including Phytophthora, Pythium, and Rhizoctonia attack the roots and crown. This leads to leaf wilt, dieback, and brown foliage.
Overhead watering, inadequate pruning for airflow, crowded planting, and high humidity are prime culprits for blights. Infection risk also rises if plants are stressed by improper growing conditions.
Identifying Blight on Autumn Sage
Check autumn sage frequently for these telltale signs of blight:
-
Small, circular brown spots on leaves surrounded by yellow halos. Spots enlarge and bleed together.
-
Leaves with tan lesions with dark brown borders. Centers dry up and fall out leaving shot holes.
-
Lower leaves yellow, wilt and drop off while upper leaves collapse.
-
Entire leaf browns, withers and dies. Defoliation progresses up the plant.
-
Discolored, watersoaked spots on stems that spread. Cankers form on stems near soil line.
-
Stunted, yellow plants with lackluster flowering. Dieback of stems and branches.
-
Roots, crown and lower stems dark brown or black. Inner tissues are mushy or hollow.
The sooner blight is detected, the better the chance of saving plants. Left unchecked, blights can severely weaken or kill autumn sage.
Treating Blight on Autumn Sage
If signs of blight arise, take action right away with these treatment methods:
Improve Air Circulation and Sun Exposure
Allow more space between plants to encourage airflow. Remove weeds and excess foliage to reduce humidity levels. Don’t crowd or overplant autumn sage. Ensure plants receive at least 6 hours of direct sun daily.
Water at Soil Level and Avoid Overhead Watering
Water with drip irrigation or soaker hoses. Water early in the day so foliage dries completely before nightfall. This keeps leaves and stems drier to deter fungal and bacterial growth.
Apply Preventative Fungicides
Use fungicides containing chlorothalonil, myclobutanil, copper, or sulfur early in the season as a protective shield. Always follow label instructions. Avoid excessive application which can lead to resistance. Alternate between chemical classes for most efficacy.
Treat with Organic Fungicides
Mix and spray homemade fungicides with ingredients like baking soda, horticultural oils, or neem oil every 7-14 days when disease is present. Maintain good coverage on top and bottom of leaves. Reapply after rain.
Prune Diseased Foliage
Remove any leaves or stems with spots. Disinfect pruners between each cut with rubbing alcohol. Destroy the diseased debris – do not compost. Continue to monitor and prune to keep disease from spreading.
Consider Resistant Varieties
Some autumn sage varieties have enhanced resistance to common fungal diseases. Try more tolerant types like ‘Wilder’s Red’, ‘Puerto Vallarta’, and ‘Mystic Spires Blue’.
Prevention Starts with Proper Growing Conditions
While treating active infections is crucial, prevention is the best medicine when it comes to blight on autumn sage. Use these proactive plant care tips:
-
Plant in well-draining, slightly acidic soil enriched with compost. Avoid poorly draining, soggy sites.
-
Apply a 2-4 inch organic mulch layer to retain soil moisture and reduce splash from watering.
-
Fertilize lightly in spring with a balanced organic fertilizer to support plant health without excessive growth.
-
Prune autumn sage by 1/3 its size in late winter to improve airflow and structure. Remove dead stems and leaves.
-
Monitor weekly and remove diseased leaves immediately. Disinfect tools regularly.
-
Avoid overhead watering and provide 1-1 1⁄2 inches of water per week at soil level. Allow soil to dry between waterings.
-
Space autumn sage 18-24 inches apart and thin interior growth to increase airflow.
-
Scout for signs of pests like spider mites which can weaken plant defenses against disease.
-
Apply preventative fungicidal drenches or cover sprays at first sign of disease outbreaks.
With vigilance, prompt treatment, and attentive care focused on disease prevention, you can contain troublesome blights and maintain gorgeous, healthy autumn sage plants in your garden.
Frequency of Entities:
autumn sage: 27
blight: 27
leaves: 12
spots: 10
water/watering: 5
airflow: 5
fungus/fungal/fungicides: 17
bacteria/bacterial: 4
disease/diseases: 13
soil: 5
plants: 7
pruning: 3
varieties: 1
pests: 1
treatment/treat/treating: 5
prevent/prevention/preventative: 6
How to Spot, Treat, and Prevent Sage Diseases
Sage plants are relatively disease-free, but there are a few that can damage your plants. Most are caused by fungi that can spread through the soil, water, air, infected tools, animals, and even gardeners themselves.
Spot diseases on your sage plants sooner so you can treat plants before they are destroyed by disease and can successfully manage symptoms. Here is a three-step approach to keeping vigilant about the presence of sage plant diseases:
- Research the risks. Find out about sage diseases that are prevalent in your geographic area. Moist and rainy climates can contribute to fungal diseases. When possible, choose sage varieties that are hardier and more disease resistant.
- Examine plants daily. Check your sage plants every day to be sure no disease symptoms are present or emerging.
- Spot diseases early. Catch and treat disease quickly so your plants can recover and thrive.
Sage diseases can affect the leaves, stems, and roots. Here are possible disease symptoms to look for to spot potential infection:
Sage leaves:
- rusty spots or blotches
- yellowed or spotted/blotched foliage
- dusty spots on top of leaves
- white or rusty bumps on the bottom of leaves
Sage stems:
- softness or mushiness
- turning brown
Sage roots:
Make your own natural disease and pest control spray with benign materials. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon of a mild dish detergent, and 2 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil in a gallon of water to make a solution that will repel all kinds of bugs, as well as a fungicide for blight and mildew on the sage plant leaves. Shake it well in your bottle before spraying, and repeat every week for it to be continuously effective.
We’re believers in not using toxic materials in the garden—they can hurt the plants, hurt the soil, damage the environment, and harm you.
Alternaria Leaf Spot: These are small rusty spots or blotches with white or grey centers that you’ll see on the top of the leaf. Warm and humid weather make it worse. Remove infected parts and prune to improve air circulation.
Damping Off: Caused by a fungus in moist soils, this is when your sage suddenly wilts and dies for no reason. It could be because the soil is too moist, or because you have too much nitrogen in your soil. Sage can thrive in most conditions and doesn’t require excessive watering or fertilizer.
Mint Rust: When you see small white spots under the leaves that are raised before turning red or brown, you may have mint rust. This is from too much overhead watering. You can avoid this spread by separating plants in the mint family.
Powdery Mildew: This disease will look similar to how it will on squash plants. You’ll see an extra white or grey fuzz on leaves, and it will slowly kill the plant. Overwatering from overhead can cause this, and a lack of air circulation. Try pruning to add air circulation and reduce watering or transplant to a drier area.
Septoria Leaf Spot: Small grayish-brown spots on leaves that eventually turn black and die. The spots may also have a red color to them. Like most sage diseases, this can be avoided by watering less and providing more air circulation in your plant.
Growing food, fun & more
- Sign In
-
Search
How to Prune Salvia to Get Continuous Blooms!! Learned this by Accident! My Selective Pruning Method
FAQ
How do you get rid of blight on plant leaves?
Why is my Autumn Sage dying?
Should Autumn Sage be cut back in the fall?
What are the symptoms of leaf blight in plants?