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White, powdery patches of fungus on plants could be a sign of a fungal disease.

The gardening experts at Homebase have shared how to remove white patches, also known as mildew, on plants.

The experts said: “This leaf disease attacks plants throughout the year but is most prevalent during the dry months.”

The disease is caused by dryness at the plant’s roots. If the disease is left unchecked, it can spread throughout the plant which can “weaken” it and “ruin its appearance”.

Mildew appears on plants as grey, powdery patches on the top surface of the leaf.

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The patches can also appear on flowers and fruit. Parts of the plant may seem stunted or distorted if it’s infected.

Removing mildew from plants can be as simple as brushing it off with your hands, however, this won’t rid plants of the disease itself.

If a leaf is blighted with mildew, prune back the entire shoot to either a healthy leaf or to the ground if the plant needs it using secateurs.

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The entire plant needs to be checked thoroughly and needs to be “pruned” wherever there are signs of mildew.

If removing all of the diseased leaves would leave plants completely bare, gardeners may need to use a fungicide spray.

Fungicides won’t cure mildew but it will stop it spreading any further.

However, gardeners must make sure to follow the instructions on the spray container as fungicides can have an impact on the surrounding environment and wildlife.

To stop plants from getting mildew, keep them well-watered and fed, particularly at the beginning of the growing season.

There are multiple different types of powdery mildew that affect different species of plants.

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