Plant Health Care The Diagnostic Process

References

CMG GardenNotes

• Diagnosing Tree Disorders, #110
• Plant Health Care, #111
• Other CMG GardenNotes
• Other CE Fact Sheets

Books

• Aspen: A Guide to Common Problems in Colorado. CSU Extension Pu8blication 559A. 1996. – $5.00 (color)
• Abiotic Disorders of Landscape Plants: A Diagnostic Guide. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication 3420. 2004. ISBN: 1-879906-58-9
• Insects and Diseases of Woody Plants of the Central Rockies. Colorado State University Extension Bulletin 506A. 2004.
• Plant Health Care for Woody Ornamentals. University of Illinois Extension. 1997. ISBN: 1-883097-17-7

---

PHC and Diagnosing Plant Disorders curriculum developed by David Whiting and Carol O’Meara

David E Whiting
Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist
Department of Horticulture and LA
Phone: 970-491-7030
Fax: 970-491-7745
E-mail: david.whiting@colostate.edu

o Colorado Master Gardener Training is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Colorado Garden Show, Inc.
o Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Colorado counties cooperating.
o Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
o No endorsement of products named is intended, nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned.
o Copyright © 2005-2007. Colorado Master Gardener Program, Colorado State University Extension. All Rights Reserved. Training packet may not be reproduced without written permission of David Whiting. Revised June 2007

---

Review Questions

Plant Health Care

1. Define IPM and PHC.
2. Describe concepts central to PHC?
3. Give examples of common PHC tools used in home gardening.
4. What is the PIC cycle? What does it explain about tree care and pest problems?
5. In diagnosing contributing disorders, why is it important to also identify the predisposing and inciting factors to the extent possible?
6. In pest management, what are bionaturals? What is preservation and importation of bionataurals? Why don’t we import more Bionaturals?
7. List the PHC questions for pest management.
8. List the PHC questions for using pesticides.
9. Based on actual records from landscape management, what percentage of pest problems warrant the use of a pesticide?

Diagnosing Process

1. List the four steps, with sub-steps in the diagnostic process.
2. Give examples of living factors that cause plant problems. Give examples of non-living (abiotic) factors that cause plant problems.
3. Why is it important to correctly identify the plant?
4. Define symptom and sign. Give examples of each.
5. Explain why it is important to define what’s normal versus abnormal about a plant problem.
6. List the steps for systematically evaluating a tree.
7. Explain how knowing the context of the situation helps in diagnosing the disorder.
8. Explain how painting a mental picture of a plant problem helps in diagnosing a disorder.
9. Explain how repeating back the details in your own words helps in diagnosing a disorder.
10. Explain how to tactfully change directions when the evidence leads down another road.
11. Why is it important to discuss management options ONLY after the problems have been diagnosed?

[ top ]