Just when you think you know what you are doing because you have done it for years w/o any issues, Damping Off disease moves in and sets up house! Damping Off Disease (DOD) is an umbrella term which numerous fungus caused ailments fall under.
Above are a flat of tomato plants that were affected. At first I thought it was the water as it had went through the softener. Looking pathetic, I was nearly in a panic. Good thing it was very early and enough time to re-plant. DOD can start in the soil affecting seeds, at the soil level, and also rot the crown of plants. It's everywhere!
Sooooooo pathetic. A transplanted tomato.....do you even recognize it all whirly twirly? Some plants have died, many in fact, and others have grown out of it, I think. The ugly ones we will plant in the field, and the new ones, that I am hopeful will be beautiful, will be sold.
This tray of Asters, was probably the worst. I have since used a fungicide to prevent spreading.
DOD is usually brought on by wet conditions, sometimes cold or warmth too. What? It's got to be one or the other, right? Running a fan is important for air flow, do not keep trays soaking wet, allow to dry out some between waterings, but not to the point of death. Always use a potting mix, NEVER soil from the garden for seedlings. Not sure why my usual routine failed me this year, but I do know I will use a fungicidal drench next year to prevent this issue. Lesson learned.
Above are a flat of tomato plants that were affected. At first I thought it was the water as it had went through the softener. Looking pathetic, I was nearly in a panic. Good thing it was very early and enough time to re-plant. DOD can start in the soil affecting seeds, at the soil level, and also rot the crown of plants. It's everywhere! 
Sooooooo pathetic. A transplanted tomato.....do you even recognize it all whirly twirly? Some plants have died, many in fact, and others have grown out of it, I think. The ugly ones we will plant in the field, and the new ones, that I am hopeful will be beautiful, will be sold. 
This tray of Asters, was probably the worst. I have since used a fungicide to prevent spreading.
You will have to double click on photo to make it larger, hopefully you can read it. Perfect time of year to be pruning most of your woody plants, EXCEPT the ones that will be blooming soon. Prune them after they bloom, like lilacs & forsythia. If you haven't pruned before, practice with your pruners on a branch you intend to toss out anyway. Pruners are good for smaller branches, use the lopers for bigger branches like 1/2 - 1". Pruning saws, chain saws, hedge saws for the bigger stuff. Wound paint is not recommended anymore except for oak. Never remove more than 1/3 of a tree in any given year, unless 1/2 of it is dead, that doesn't count! Rejuvenating an old neglected tree might take a couple of years. 
