One of the most popular products we sell is Sulfur.  Grandma always has said that it is the miracle chemical.  Sulfur has been around forever;  we even sell sulfur salt blocks for the cattle and horses.  Grandma tells that it helps keep insects off of the animals.  Sulfur is the main ingredient in some dog dips.  At one time people used sulfur made into a paste for rain rot (fungus) on horses. The best one is that if you mix sulfur and lime you can scare away snakes.

When we put all of that aside, I ‘ll tell you what the packaging lists for applications of sulfur.  It is a fungicide and an insecticide.  For roses, shrubs, and flowers sulfur is used for black spot, powdery mildew, thrips and mites.  Begin spraying when new growth starts in the spring.  Mix 4 tablespoons per 1 gallon of water used.  Even vegetables can be sprayed with sulfur.  Spray especially when there are frequent rainfalls, begin spraying at the first sign of disease.  

To spray fruit trees reduce dosage to 1 tablespoon to 1 gallon of water.  Repeat applications every 7 to 14 days.  Do not spray when the tree is blooming.  Brown rot is one of the diseases that sulfur helps to control.  Lets don’t forget the insects that get on the fruit trees, thrips and , spider mites. 

Grandma knew a lot of stuff that we don’t pay attention to anymore, but using sulfur was a good one.  Sure wish Grandma was still here.  I loved all of the advice she gave and the wonderful hugs.  I tried to make some jelly last week, with my granddaughter Harper, and it has not set yet.  If MiMi was still here, she would have been the help and advice that we needed.

As always, please read the label.

(Mitzi Thomas owns Minden Farm & Garden LLC. Watch for her column on Fridays in Webster Parish Journal. Email Mitzi questions at  mitzithomas40@yahoo.com.)