Administration:
Consulting Rosarians
History of MRS
Officers
Bronze Medal Awards
Membership:
Join Us!
Newsletter sample
Upcoming Events:
Programs
Directions to MAGC
Rose Culture:
Diseases
Fertilizing
Garden Good/Bad Guys
Great Roses
Planting
Pruning
Watering
Annual Rose Care
Monthly Rose Care
Rose of the Month
Rose Purchasing:
Buying Roses
Mail Order Sources
Rose Shows:
Latest Show Results
Previous Rose Shows
MRS Trophies
Misc:
Poet's Corner
Rose Books
Join the ARS
What's New?
Rosey Links
Site Map
ROSE CARE FOR SEPTEMBER
by Nanette Londeree, Master Rosarian
by Nanette Londeree, Master Rosarian
The last weeks of summer can bring with it a mixed bag of weather – really hot, dry days with afternoon winds that can suck the moisture right out of your plants and leave you with roses that look like they’ve been thrown on the barbeque – soft in the middle and crispy on the edges; mild days and cool nights that are optimal for the reappearance of the dusting of powdery mildew on new foliage, or drizzly morning fog that lingers on leaves just long enough for rust and blackspot to mar your foliage. You can also have some of the best roses of the year with shortening days and cooler temperatures. The most important thing for this time of year is keeping your plants watered. Long, slow watering that penetrates far enough into the soil to reach all the plants roots.
Because it’s been so long since we’ve had any rain, you may see dust build up on your foliage. Pests love it, especially spider mites! Couple hot temperatures with low humidity and dusty leaves and you’ll have perfect conditions for an explosion of these little arachnids that can decimate a plant in a matter of a few days. You’ll most likely see plant damage before you see the mites; stippling or yellowing of leaves, leaves that look dry and brittle then fall off. On the undersides of leaves, you can usually see their webbing. Shake a leaf over a white sheet of paper and if you see dark specks moving across the paper, it’s most likely spider mites. Knock them down by hosing off foliage with a forceful jet of water, both the top and undersides of leaves. If you need a stronger treatment, use an insecticidal soap, horticultural oil or neem oil. Chemical control of spider mites requires use of a miticides or acaricides; few insecticides are effective for spider mites and can even make the problem worse by killing off natural enemies and stimulating mite’s reproduction!
Fall is a great time to shop for plants – lots of nurseries have big sales on roses after Labor day and you can get well developed plants for a fraction of the potted plant price (and even competitive or better prices than bareroot). Look for plants with well developed canes and clean foliage.
A YEAR OF ROSE CARE:
January
Return to the Main Page
gail@marinrose.org
All Rights Reserved
Last Modified: 10/27/08