After you are done pruning
your roses, remove all leaves and clean the garden of old, diseased leaves.
They are the depository of blackspot spores and mildew. I don’t use fungicides
or insecticides, but I do spray with dormant oil. I use Pyola Oil from Gardens
Alive. It seems to work and I don’t have much blackspot. Aphids should be
coming in droves pretty soon. They can
be removed with a sharp spray of water from your garden hose. Ladybugs also do
a good job getting rid of aphids. Beneficial nematodes sprayed on your lawn
will kill the grubs which later on become the destructive Japanese
beetles. Gardens Alive is also a good
source for ladybugs and beneficial nematodes.
Then it
is time to feed the roses. If you have
not put down Epsom Salt yet, don’t wait any longer. Go to the pharmacy and get some. It now comes in big bags as well as those
cardboard boxes. I watch the weather
forecast and do it before it rains so I don’t have to water after
application. Why Epsom Salt, you
might ask? If you read the label on the box, it says Magnesium Sulfate. For
gardeners, Magnesium Sulfate is a trace element that plants need to encourage
new growth, promote greener leaves and better blooms. A handful for Hybrid Teas and other big
flowered roses will suffice and Miniature roses get half the dosage.
I also
scatter granular fertilizer around the roses now and I will put more compost in
the garden beds. Compost is an excellent
source of nutrients for the plant and it also stabilizes the soil content
whether the soil is alkaline or acidic.
Roses
are heavy feeders. Some rosarians
fertilize with a cup of 10-20-10 or 12-24-12 granular fertilizer spread evenly
around the rose bush. Other rosarians add a cup or two of alfalfa meal. I use a
granular fertilizer first and I put down Mills Magic Rose Mix about 2 weeks
later. Aside
from granular fertilizer, I also give them liquid fertilizer, which I begin after
placing Mills Magic. You can use any fertilizer that works for you. I
will try anything that’s inexpensive. You don’t have to dig them in. I just
spread it on top of the mulch and let nature take care of it. Watch the weather
forecast and spread it before it rains. It’s a lazy man’s way but it works and
it saves my back.
Last thing to do is
mulch. If you have mulch there already, add more but stir the old mulch first.
Some mulch packs down and has to be stirred a bit for better water penetration.
Mulch keeps the bed moist and controls the weeds. With mulch in place, I
do not have to worry about weeds for awhile.
Years ago, I never used mulch because I wanted to see the soil around
the rose beds. Now with the passing
years, I find I have less time to garden or maybe I’m slowing down and it takes
more time to do garden work. I used to
weed a lot but with mulch, I don’t have to do as much weeding as before. Nowadays, I can relax a little bit after I
finish the last bed.
Roses are easy plants to grow contrary to popular belief. Why do you think Roses have been around for millions of years? All they need are food, water and sunlight. Just like you and me. We want to help you grow Beautiful Roses!
Here at Rose Gardening World, we’ll educate you about the Rose - our National Floral Emblem and the state flower of several states. Welcome to Rose Gardening World where Rose Gardening Tips, Rose Growing Advice, Planning a Rose Garden, Rose Descriptions, Where to Buy Roses, Where to see Rose Gardens, Rose Culture, Rose History, Roses in Art, Rose Events, Rose Verses are all here in one place. So, plant a rose today!
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Check my other blogs:
- YES, YOU CAN GROW BEAUTIFUL ROSES
- KNOCK OUT ROSES
- EARTHKIND ROSES
- OSO EASY ROSES
- OSO HAPPY ROSES
- ROSE SUPPLIERS
- WILL THERE BE A SHORTAGE OF ROSES IN 2012?
- PLANTING BARE-ROOT ROSES
- CLEANING ROSE PRUNERS BLADES
- PRUNING YOUR ROSES
- AARS WINNER FOR 2012
- DAVID AUSTIN ROSES
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