ECO-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES TO ROSE CARE

As I talk to more people about growing roses, I was amazed at most of the answers I got, “Roses are hard to grow. You have to spray constantly.” Spraying scares some people. With all the talk on sustainability, this is one thing that we as members of a rose society should pay attention to. Most people just want to grow roses without spraying those chemicals and that is the main reason “Knock Out” roses are so popular. We have to educate them that there are alternative to spraying and there are other easy roses besides Knock Out roses.

 

I know big exhibitors have to keep their roses in perfect condition and the only way is to keep on their spray program. I admire them for taking on that task but a majority of gardeners do not want to do that. When we talk to novices and start spouting about all those toxic chemicals, they will surely find the nearest exit to get out of where you are. It’s not a good way to introduce new members to grow roses. We have to find an alternative way to entice them to grow roses the easy way and there are other ways.

 

Years ago, I sprayed my roses every week. Then about 15 years ago, I decided to stop spraying because I could not stand the smell of those chemicals to the point of closing all my windows after I sprayed the garden. Top exhibitors would disagree with this notion but I was not going for the Queen. I was more interested in rose arrangements at that time and showing my garden at our annual garden tour. I need color in the garden and fragrant roses. I discovered Bayers 3-in-1 would do the same job so I used that. Then Bayers stopped selling them in New York. The first year, I did not spray, the garden looked terrible. Some of the roses got defoliated completely by August. But I ignored it as I looked for other alternatives.

 

For starters, I discovered Gardens Alive, a purveyor of earth-friendly products. I started spreading beneficial nematodes on the edge of the lawn in the spring and fall. They kill the grubs which grow up into Japanese beetles. I got rid of the beetles. 

 

For aphids, there are some environment friendly methods you can use. Ladybugs and lacewing larvae will eat aphids. I used ladybugs. One rose supplier I asked told me to just give them a good drench of water. A heavy thunderstorm will probably do a better job than any dose of chemical spray. Since aphids cannot fly, once you knock them off the plant, they will not be able to return.

 

Red spider mite is a relative of the true spider and only occurs in the late spring/early summers in very dry conditions. Once you get an infestation, it is very hard to control but the most important thing to remember is that a very fine spray must be used on the sprayer and the plant must be completely wet. An application of dormant oil in late winter will kill eggs wintering on the ground. The telltale sign of an infestation is the leaves appear to lack color and eventually fall off. The mites, which are very, very small, appear on the underside of the leaves and are reddish brown. I had a Graham Thomas in a pot in front of my house and for two years got spider mites. Since I don’t spray, I kept on cutting the infected stem. I decided to give it one more chance and move the pot to the back yard where it got partial sun and pruned it drastically in February. Lo and behold it fares better at the new location and looks happy.

 

To take care of diseases like blackspot, I used Pyola from Gardens Alive. I also bought Serenade from Possum. Messenger and Mighty Plant are excellent products too. I tried Roses Alive this year and the roses look very healthy without spraying toxic chemicals. I don’t own a sprayer to prove my point.

 

Most important of all is to keep your garden clean, tidy and weed free. Get rid of diseased leaves. I go out there every day and if I see leaves with blackspot, I pull them out. If you have pine straw mulch, it is hard to pick up the diseased leaves stuck between the straws so I opted for black cedar mulch.

 

Check your garden every day to see what is going on. Unless it is raining, I’m out there in the garden everyday doing something or just walking around and enjoying the beauty that surrounds me. That’s the reward of gardening!

What is Rose Rosette Disease?

Welcome to the World of Rose Gardening or Rose Gardening World.  Take time and smell the roses.  Roses have been around for millions of years which just prove that roses are not difficult to grow. The Rose is also our National Floral Emblem and the state flower of several states.  Here at Rose Gardening World, you’ll find rose articles that will educate you about roses – its history, rose culture, rose profiles and even rose verses all in one place.  So visit Rose Gardening World often. 

I have seen the look on the face of gardeners when somebody mentioned ROSE ROSETTE DISEASE.  It seems that few gardeners have heard about it.  There was an article about it years ago on the American Rose Magazine, Jan. 2003 issue.  Below are excerpts which are very important for us to know.  

“Rose Rosette Disease (RRD) is a growing danger to ornamental roses in the eastern half of the United States.  This virus-like disease is contagious, incurable and almost always results in the death of the rose.  No ornamental roses are known to be immune.  A puff of wind can drop an infection carrying mite onto a rose at random.  Symptoms may not appear for weeks, and the disease may not be recognized for months.  In that time, RRD may spread in a garden.  We cannot prevent infection, but if we recognize symptoms early, we can minimize the impact of RRD. 

 

Early symptoms may include foliar distortion and susceptibility to powdery mildew at a time when other roses are not affected.  The reddish purple color, which is common on spring and fall growth on many healthy Hybrid Teas is often associated with RRD.  On healthy roses, the color “disappears” gradually as the leaves and canes age.  On RRD infected roses, the color persists.

Leaf shape varies from the norm.  Some are thinner in shape and barely resemble leaves.  A shortened distance between leaves on a stem or cane is another symptom.  Oddly colored veining consisting of a bright red to dark red pattern (which is also called mosaic pattern) following the veins in leaves has been reported as an early symptom of RRD. 

Excessive thorniness in a rose that normally has two or three prickles per inch may have 50 or 100.  Canes may appear swollen and have increased caliper.  Thick new canes growing from a significantly thinner, older, less thorny cane and rapid elongation of new canes is also common in roses with RRD.  Cane growth in a spiral pattern should arouse suspicion.  A mass of scraggly, contorted twigs emerging from a single leaf axil is another symptom.  Symptoms of RRD only appear in new growth, not old.  In that way, RRD differs from other rose diseases which affect existing leaves and canes.       

RRD-infected roses may not bloom, but new infection may allow some normal growth, only to affect new leaves (size) and new buds (deformed).  When they bloom, the resulting blooms will not look like blooms on healthy plants.  Often, the petal count is reduced and the petal shape and margins changed.  Seldom is the petal color the correct color for that cultivar.  Often blooms gone wrong are the first characteristic because we enjoy roses for their blooms.”

If the above symptoms are present, prune the infected area and watch the growth.  If it has RRD, it will never get better.  Discard the rose and save your garden.  It could infect your whole rose garden.  Hopefully extreme cold weather will kill the mites that are spreading the disease around.

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