"The fragrance always remains in the hand that gives the rose."...Heda Bejar
Rose Rules
- Plant non-hybrids if you are not dedicated to maintenance.
- When cutting roses, cut back to the first 5 leaf cluster.
- Develop a fertilization program - roses are heavy feeders.
- Decide on roses only for your USDA Hardiness Zone.
- Plant only what you can take care of (sort of a life rule).
- Be neat and clean and pick up all diseased leaves and cuttings and dispose of them. This will make a difference.
- Use soaker hoses for the best watering program.
- When you cut roses, be sure to trim the bottom leaves before putting in a vase. This will prevent bacteria from growing. Change water daily.
- Baking soda can be used as black spot develops. 2 tsp of baking soda and a few drops of liquid soap in 1 gallon of water. Use this to spray in the early mornings . Use every 4-5 days until the weather dries up and black spot disappears
- Be sure to eliminate the suckers growing on the bottom of the rose bush. They may eventually choke out the parent plant.
- Discover heirloom or the 'old garden roses'.
Emily: My rosebuds are malformed!
Dear Emily: My roses seem to be doing well, the leaves are a good color and I am spraying for pests. When they bloom, the blooms are malformed, the buds almost resemble peonies with the round appearance. Any ideas?
A: Rose buds that are malformed may be afflicted with thrips. These are very active tiny, slender. brownish yellow, winged insects that hide in the base of infected flowers. Thrips are very fond of light colored roses. Your best bet is to cut off and dispose of spent blooms and you can use an insecticidal soap or a stronger insecticide that will contain acephate. Apply according to the instructions on the side of the container.
Emily: My leaves are turning yellow!
Dear Emily: My climbing rose (Coral Dawn) that I planted last summer is doing really well. Only problem I notice is that the leaves on the branches are turning yellow and dropping (proceeding from the lower branches). Is this a nutrient problem or a pH balance problem?
A: Could be insects. Check the undersides of the leaves and see if there are little pin-point type bugs moving around. Could be spider mites. If so (or if it is any other insect) your first line of defense is to spray with insecticidal soap. Buy at your garden shop (Safer makes one brand) or make your own. I usually spray every day or two for a week or so.
Yellow leaves with brown spots is probably Black Spot, the number on rose disease. Remove all infected leaves on the plant and on the ground. (Toss in garbage) Don't get the leaves wet when watering. Spray the infected rose with a fungicide such as triforine (Funginex) or other fungicide you can get at a garden shop. This is most prevalent during hot, humid or wet weather.
Emily: Black Spot. What do I do?
Dear Emily: I have trouble with black spot on my roses. I have a couple of climbers and a bush rose. All have black spot. I removed the diseased leaves and doused all the rest with a powdery spray. I also sprayed the powder on the ground surrounding each bush. We also have a liquid black spot treatment chemical that I haven't yet used.
Is there anything that can be done preventively to avoid it? What causes it to begin with? Whatever it is, it thrives in this environment.
Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.
A: Everyone is affected by black spot....... Sooner or later, but there is help.........
Caused by a fungus
Too much rain
Overhead watering
Ground splashing upward
A fungicide will help
Pick off all affected leaves and bag and throw in trash
A solution of baking soda and water will help.
Does not generally kill the rose plant
Plant native roses or disease resistant roses like ' Bonica', 'Carefree Beauty', 'Flower Carpet', 'Dr W.Van Fleet', or' Mrs. B. R. Cant'. There is also one called 'Nearly Wild' which blooms all summer and quite disease resistant !!
It is the number one rose disease that starts in the fall
Make sure roses have good circulation
Spray dormant plants with lime sulphur
Replace mulch every spring
Spray susceptible roses with triforine ( Funginex), myclobutanil (Immunox), azadirachtin (Neem-MY FAVORITE ) or chlorothalonil (Daconil-if still on the market ) .
There you have it in a nut shell.........
You may have to do more than one application.