Rose Care and Pests and Diseases
A good rose care idea is to companion plant garlic in your rose garden. It will help keep away unwanted pests (aphids etc).
Prune to open up the center of the plant. This will improve air flow inside the bush, reducing insect and disease problems.
Cinnamon is a great natural fungicide. Mix it in with your growing media when repotting roses.
Blackspot – the bane of all rose gardeners.
Blackspot is endemic in many roses, but it is treatable. Regular spraying with triforine provides reasonably good control, so long as it is kept up. It is not eradicable completely.
Spray once a week x 3 times when the first flush of leaves come after winter dormancy. This helps prevent it getting a hold. Thereafter, just spray when you see it raising its ugly head again. Or do a once a month spray until Autumn.
You can also pick off the affected leaves – ensure them and any lying on the ground are removed and put in the trash bin. This is also an alternative for folks who prefer to be totally organic.
Thirdly, try to avoid getting the foliage wet in the later part of the afternoon or evening – blackspot grows in the little bubbles of moisture.
Moisture Is a Breeding Spot For Fungi
I think roses are better watered in the morning so that they have the moisture they need for the day’s heat.
If they suffer during an exceptionally hot period, you may need to water again in the evening – just ensure the water is at the base, not on the foliage.
Organic Control Of Blackspot
Neem Oil is an alternative to the chemical spray triforine – and it is safer for you and the environment. Use as you would triforine.
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Rose Care Suggestions and Ideas
Keep the trees and foliage around your rose bushes trimmed and cleared.
Any unnecessary organic matter will reduce airflow and encourage infection.
Select a planting sites that receive plenty of morning sun. It helps evaporate dew more quickly, which keeps fungal diseases away.
• If you don’t have room in the garden for big bushes of roses, try planting them in pots and keeping them on your deck or patio.
• If you’re serious about growing roses, join a rose society. It will provide you with access to a huge community of growers and other resources about rose care.
• Try to water roses in the early morning so that any excess water on the leaves and blooms will evaporate quickly. Roses are very susceptible to fungal diseases (black spot).
• If you live in a harsh climate, talk to someone at a local nursery about what kind of rose plant to grow in your area.
Mulch, mulch, mulch! Your roses will be happiest if you remember to mulch!
• As a general rule, fertilize after each flush of blooms and then stop fertilizing about 2 months before your first frost.
• Not all roses have fragrance! If you want a great smelling rose garden make sure to select only fragrant varieties.
• Plant your roses in an easily accessible location. These are plants that need maintenance and although they survive neglect relatively frequent attention means more blooms and healthier bushes.
When pruning roses make sure to sharpen your pruning shears first, you want a quick, clean cut.
• Don’t forget climbing roses! They are a wonderful addition to the garden and can make a barren wall look great.
When fertilizing container grown roses, make sure to use organic fertilizers – synthetic fertilizers contribute to salt buildup in the soil.
What colors are best?
This is purely a subjective matter of your own taste and preference. However, if having different colors, try to make them complement each other – e.g. yellow and red go well, mauve and red, white and red. Pascali is a very elegant white rose.