Here in northern California, we prune roses from January until mid-February, putting our roses into dormancy to provide a good bloom cycle in the spring. Most of the varieties bloom on new growth. Remember the following: dead, diseased, crossing, and skimpy. Use these four words as a guide to remove canes for all hybrid teas, …
We’re deep into the winter pruning season. This is the brief period of time when roses in Marin go into semi-dormancy, and the best time to do your annual pruning. If you’re not quite done, or are just getting started, here are some things that may be of help: Learn How to Prune Roses in …
It’s that time again. Hard to believe that January has arrived and time to get the loppers and pruning shears sharpened and ready to go. After the holidays, I am ready to brave the weather in January and get started on pruning my roses. Having around 150 bushes I try to do 15 to 20 …
Spring, summer, fall and voila winter!!!! Fortunately or unfortunately, here in our lovely state, specifically Marin county, our winter is not snow, or ice but rather tons of rain. Normally, the rain starts in November and ends in March. So, compared to the rest of the country, our winter is mellow. Simply put, winterizing our …
Cooler weather, dew on leaves longer in the morning, and the first real rains of the season, can bring with it a bane of the rose garden – rust. This fungal disease with orange, powdery pustules on the undersides of leaves makes rust easy to identify. They start out yellow to light orange and deepen …
As I write this, it is hard to believe that fall officially starts tomorrow. But the calendar doesn’t lie, and if we have a normal fall, the rains should start in mid-October. Don’t let a few early showers fool you. If an inch of rain has not fallen during the week, you will probably still …
Those leaves with the striking green and yellow marbled patterns festooning one of your rose plants may look like Mother Nature as artist, but don’t be fooled. More than likely, it’s the result of rose mosaic virus. You may see yellow, white, or brownish lines, bands, rings, wavy lines, vein clearing or blotches on leaves. …
Like most of you, I struggled through those blistering hot days of July and August with plants wilting in the sun, leaves and blooms of roses crinkly and scorched. Despite watering twice a day, it wasn’t enough. So, what could I have done? Well the old layers of mulch come to mind, but I’d already …
I only have 150 roses counting all the miniatures. Yet, I am always wondering what to do and what not to do to keep them blooming at all times since I am such a hog when it comes to rose blooms. Have you ever wondered about that too? As we all know, the weather, the …
This month can be the start of our hot weather, with warm days and cool nights as the summer fog pattern settles in. Maintain good deep watering at least every other day or more if we get a really hot spell. Fertilize with a good balanced liquid fertilizer always after watering so as not to …