By Dean Murakami
(Excerpted from the ROSE Reporter
of Tinseltown Rose Society)
Fertilization and pest control are the two most visible
cornerstones of rose growing.
Fertilizing Tips
Never feed a dry plant. If a plant is dry,
water, wait a day (the plant has to absorb water), and then feed according to
package directions.
Never feed a hot plant. Wait until the
temperature drops below 85o.
It is better not to feed than to damage with improper fertilization.
Maintenance Feeding starts
three weeks after first feeding in April [Ed.: and continues through August in CNY.]
If
you have a lot of roses, a siphon mixer
comes in real handy. To a
five gallon bucket, we put a quart of fertilizer concentrate and add water to
make five gallons of pre-mix, which (with a 1:16 hose-siphon) will make 80
gallons of fertilizer, about enough to feed 160 five-gallon can-sized
roses. Of course, you could use
almost any commercial rose food, according to package directions. Consult with any
experienced nurseryman
for alternatives.
Pest Control Basics
…Commercial pesticides are sometimes the only option to
control a pest problem quickly and efficiently. The most effective use involves prevention, usually in the
form of a regular treatment program.
Another pest control program option is to monitor your roses closely,
identify your pests, and control these rose pests as quickly as possible.
Spraying Tips
(Do’s and Don’ts, Mostly Don’ts)
1) Never
spray a dry plant. If a plant is
dry (wider moisture stress), water first, wait a day (for the plant to have
time to absorb the water) & then spray.
2) Never
spray when temperatures are expected to exceed 85o within 24 hours.
3) Don’t
spray when rain is expected within 24 hours.
4) Don’t
spray when it’s windy—spray when the air is calm to prevent drift.
5) After
applying liquid fertilizers, always water in thoroughly after application.
6) When
applying insecticides, fungicides, and liquid fertilizers, spray until the
plant is wet and just begins to drip.
Try to thoroughly spray the affected plants, including the undersides of
the leaves.
7) When
applying weed killers, apply in the morning after the dew has dried. The weed killer
won’t be diluted, and
the weeds will absorb more. Be
especially careful using herbicides [weed killers] around roses.
8) Read the
entire label, including its directions and precautions. Use all chemicals only as
directed. Always refer to the
label on the product container before using, even if you’ve used the product
before.
9) Clean
your sprayer after each use, [and keep a separate one only for weed killers.]
