Tag: roses

Garden, Insects and Disease, Plants, Roses

Awful Aphids, Creepy Caterpillars and Evil Black Spot

My roses are suffering from this triple threat.  With a cool, wet spring and having been mostly ignored, the danger deepens.  The aphids seem to multiply exponentially, small, unassuming and  insidious.  The caterpillars hungrily munch, munch, munch, without the good manners to finish one leaf before moving on to the next.  Black spot is here to stay, and it’s not going away.  So what is … Continue reading Awful Aphids, Creepy Caterpillars and Evil Black Spot

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Plants, Roses

Roses—What to do in Spring

The following rose care calendar is from the book Growing Roses Organicallyby Barbara Wilde.  These suggestions are for zones 7 and 8.  Spring is a great time for roses! March:  Finish planting bareroot roses early in month, finish winter pruning early in month, check irrigation systems, sow annuals to attract beneficial insects. April: Plant containerized roses. May: Release beneficial insects if necessary, plant containerized roses, gather … Continue reading Roses—What to do in Spring

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Book Reviews, Roses

Book Review—Growing Roses Organically by Barbara Wilde

On the first page this book makes the questionable claim “these pages will teach you all you need to know to start your rose garden right”.   All I need to know?  All I ever need to know?  All that is absolutely necessary to grow roses?  It seems unbelievable, yet after reading this book, it may be true.  At least I feel prepared with the … Continue reading Book Review—Growing Roses Organically by Barbara Wilde

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