Getting Rid Of That Black Mold Around Shrubs And Ivy

Have you ever seen that sooty, gray stuff on the leaves of your shrubs or ivy? That’s mold. It’s another variety of the same stuff you find on your bathroom tiles or in parts of your house that have water damage.

Usually, we talk about mold as a problem inside the house, but mold can grow anywhere. In fact, it is most commonly found in the wild, where it breaks down decomposed matter and recycles it into the ecosystem.

You will often see the exact same type of mold growing in other parts of your yard, like a sidewalk or a tree.

The good news is that mold is not very harmful to your plants. This is a variety of mold that is not toxic. You may have noticed that you can simply rub it away with your finger and thumb and it’s gone.

In some severe cases, the mold can block the sunlight and prevent photosynthesis. In that case, the effected plant may wilt more quickly than others. Too much mold on the leaves can block sunlight and weaken your plants, so it is good to remove it and keep it off.

This gray mold is more of a problem because it affects the way your shrubs or ivy look. It’s ugly and it keeps the green from showing through. You want those shrubs and ivy to look as good as they can.

Causes

This mold is caused by insects feeding on the plant. Certain insects leave behind a fluid called “honeydew” on the leaves of plants. This honeydew keeps the leaves wet and produces ideal conditions for mold.

Any plant that is favored by insects that leave behind honeydew can easily develop mold problems. This includes many of our favorite shrubs and ivies.

You may have seen tiny black flies around your shrubs. These guys are the culprit. This is a common type of insect that causes mold problems. There are many others as well.

Prevention

The best way to keep mold off your shrubs and ivies is to keep the honeydew producing insect off of them.

This may require a bit of research. You first have to find out what insect is causing the problem. Then, you must keep the insect away using some traditional method such as pesticides.

In addition to pesticides, there are a variety of organic sprays that can help keep off the bugs. Horticultural oil is favored by organic farmers as an alternative to pesticides. You can find more information on horticultural oil here.

If you want to let nature run its course, another option is simply to periodically clean your plants. Spraying water on the leaves will help to make it easier to rub off the mold.

You can use a small amount of soap to remove mold, but be careful. Some plants may be effected by the chemicals in the soap.

I suggest you try out a small area first. Wash a small area with soap and check it later to see if it is okay. With this little test, you can make sure that you don’t damage your shrubs with the treatment.

How Can You Tell If It’s A Symptom Of Toxic Mold?

Nasal congestion, headaches, sneezing, fatigue, sore throat, itchy eyes… these are the common symptoms of toxic mold. But, these are also the regular symptoms of lots of other things. How can you tell if it’s a symptom of toxic mold?

Most people have an allergic reaction to mold that strongly resembles a minor cold or sinus trouble. You may get a little congested or sneeze. You might have a headache and feel tired. Itchiness or shortness of breath could be caused by any number of things. Is it a symptom of toxic mold?

Recently, we are becoming more aware of how our environments affect our health. Everyone knows that asbestos in old buildings has caused thousands of people to develop life-threatening health problems. But few consider mold to be a threat on that level.

The fact is that toxic mold can cause permanent damage to your lungs, nervous system, immune system, internal organs and brain. Among the most adverse symptoms of toxic mold poisoning are loss of memory, mood disorders and possibly liver and kidney cancer.

So, mold is a serious problem. But, how do you identify your health troubles as mold-related?

Here are a few factors to consider:

-Do you live in a humid environment? If you live in a place where there is a lot of moisture, you probably have mold growing in your house. Keep an eye on the wettest parts of the house, like the bathroom and kitchen.

-Has there been water damage, flooding or an especially high level of humidity in or near your home? If any water damage is not properly cleaned and dried, it will be a breeding ground for mold. Leaky pipes, bad roofs, cracked chimneys and any place where rain can get in are perfect places for mold to grow.

-Do you suddenly get congested or experience other symptoms when you enter a certain part of the house? One of the best ways to find mold is to simply follow your nose. Try to take notice of when you experience these symptoms. If you can pinpoint a certain room or place in the house, you’ve found the mold.

Most people suffer a mild allergy to mold, but mold can be very dangerous if:

-There are elderly people or children in the house. Mold is especially hard on them. Toxic mold can interfere with the normal functioning of the immune system, which can be deadly for older people. If kids are regularly exposed to mold, they can develop lifelong health problems.

-You suffer from asthma or another respiratory illness. Mold will bring on asthma attacks and intensify breathing problems. This is because mold spores most commonly enter the body through the lungs. There is still no concrete evidence, but many medical researchers believe that mold may be a factor in the development of asthma in children.

-The mold is toxic. Toxic mold is rare, but increasingly common health problems are being found to be toxic mold-related.

Some varieties of mold contain mycotoxins in their spores, which kill cell tissue and damage nerve endings. Toxic mold is rare but very serious, and should be dealt with immediately. Most cases of toxic mold poisoning have been found in very old buildings, often public facilities such as schools and workplaces.

Wherever you find mold, eliminate it immediately and take measures to keep it from growing back. The key to fighting mold-related health problems is simple prevention.