Fixing Diseased and Problem Roses
It seems that even with the best of prevention techniques and caring for your roses, you cannot always stop diseases and problems from affecting your roses. For all of the problems your roses can encounter, there are just as many ways to fix them. All it takes is a little bit of tender loving care, and the right techniques. Here are some of those techniques to help your roses look their best.
Aphids and Spider Mites
Aphids are a greenish brown insect that suck the juices from roses, and can eventually cause your roses to dry out. To effectively treat them, simply blast your roses with soapy water.
Black Spots
Black spots are a fungal disease that causes the canes to turn black or brown in spots on the foliage. To remedy this, simply prune the affected areas and throw out the clippings. Do not water the head to prevent this from happening again.
Canker
A canker is another fungal disease that causes the canes to turn black or brown. All you have to do is prune the canes just below the canker in the early spring.
Midge
A midge is a tiny maggot that causes the rose’s buds to blacken from the damage. If you want to fix this problem, prune the affected area and then destroy it.
Rust
Rust is a disease that creates an orange powder in the center of the rose. It is caused by wet and calm winter weather. Putting in some spider mites can help with this because they hate the water. You should consult your local garden center about the best insecticide to use in order to get rid of the spider mites. Once you have chosen the insecticide, spray every 7-10 days until it is under control.
Powder Mildew
You can put an end to powder mildew by making a mixture of
1 gallon of water
2 TBSP of baking soda
1 TBSP of Murphy’s Oil Soap
Spray over the roses in the morning every two weeks until the overall temperature around the roses reaches 80 degrees.
Give Your Roses a Springtime Boost
Every spring people get a boost of energy. It is like the very air in the spring time is rejuvenating in itself. Natural passions and new loves are often born in the spring, and old loves get a nice spark between them. Spring is definitely the best time of year.
The same goes for roses. It is in the spring that people begin planting or replenishing their rose gardens. For those bushes that are already established, spring is the time to see new buds and blooms trying to be born.
If you are interested in helping your roses get an even bigger boost in the spring, you may want to try this special tonic that is used to give your roses a strong boost of all of the nutrients that your roses need in order for them to grow strong, healthy and produce a lot of buds. Try this recipe for the greatest spring start to your roses.
- Be certain to apply in the early spring after you have removed any of the necessary winter protection that you put up.
Here is a list of the ingredients that you will need to make this mixture. You should mix them in a 5 gallon tub or bucket.
- 2 cups of alfalfa meal
- 2 cups of Epsom salt
- 2 cups of fish meal
- 2 cups of gypsum
- 2 cups of greensand
- 1 cup of bone meal
- You will first have to pull back the mulch that has been placed around your rose bush.
- You will next, want to work one cup of this tonic into the top inch of soil if you have a smaller bush.
- You will do best to use a trowel or a hand cultivator for larger bushes. (that would be bushes that are 6 feet or taller) For these sizes, you will need to use three or four cups.
- Now you will have to replace the mulch and water your roses very well.
Tip #1: You can do this again in the middle of June if you want to keep your roses blooming. Just scratch 2 cups of the mixture into the soil.
Tip #2: You should wear a dust mask while you are mixing your ingredients for the tonic.