Gardening advice: Preventing fungal diseases through proper watering

Gardeners are advised to adjust watering techniques to prevent fungal diseases in roses and hollyhocks. For roses, a white powdery film on leaves often indicates powdery mildew, a fungus favored by heat and humidity. To mitigate this, experts suggest avoiding overhead watering and instead watering at the base of the plant to keep foliage dry and improve air circulation.

Similarly, hollyhocks are susceptible to rust, a disease caused by Puccinia fungi that manifests as yellowing leaves and orange spots. To prevent the spread of spores, it is recommended to water only at the soil level, preferably in the morning, to ensure leaves dry quickly and to avoid creating a film of water on the foliage.