Roses—Keep diseases out with horsetail!

Our world will never be without horsetail, so why not put it to good use?  Prevent rose diseases, mildew and rust with this horsetail infusion.  This weed that lasts till the end of time (Equisetum arvensis) contains calcium, iron, magnesium, molybdenum, potassium and sulfur.  Good stuff for a foliar spray.  Dry horsetail plants, crush them and store in an airtight container.  To prepare horsetail infusion, … Continue reading Roses—Keep diseases out with horsetail!

Antique Rose—-Rosa gallica

This is the last of the famous four (alba, damask, centifolia and gallica).   I would like to see all of them growing side by side to differentiate between the foliage and blossoms.  Any ideas where?  The gallica is known as the apothecary’s rose.  An apothecary in the old days was the pharmacist, herbalist or medical practitioner.  This rose was a staple in the medicine … Continue reading Antique Rose—-Rosa gallica

Roses—What to do in Spring

The following rose care calendar is from the book Growing Roses Organically by 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 … Continue reading Roses—What to do in Spring

Roses—What to do in Winter

The following rose care calendar is from the book Growing Roses Organically by Barbara Wilde.  These are the suggestions for zones 7-8. December:  Plant new bareroot roses. January: Prepare new beds, continue planting bareroot roses, prune and train established roses, clean up and dispose of rose debris, spray dormant oil if you had high numbers of mites and scale last season. February: Prune and train … Continue reading Roses—What to do in Winter