I choose my friends by their character and the roses I grow by their performance and colour. This is not so much how to plant a rose bush, but how to provide care. Let me impart some rose growing Ted Bits.

ROSE GARDEN SANITATION IS A MUST

If you’ve over wintered tender roses from last year, remove any garden mulches and protective covering from rose beds. (usually in April and early May)

Pick up and trash any wilted, dropped or missed rose leaves from the previous season. Prune off dead rose-wood canes. Let the sun thoroughly dry the soil surface. This baking process kills many over wintering spores and fungi.

THE GOOD NEWS IS...

…things are changing for the better and we are all part of that change. Unfortunately in the past, roses, both home and commercially grown have been the focus of more poisonous sprays and dusts that any other flower. Home rose growers are saying: Stop this madness! They’re taking control of their own environment where they garden, live, eat and sleep.

INSECT PESTS

You are likely to find any number and variety. Tiny green rose aphids are prolific and quick to appear. They cluster about the tips of new shoots and on young forming rose buds. The easiest control is to smear or wipe them away between fingers. Also, a forcible spray from the garden hose works well at dislodging aphids.

Flower thrips, rose chafer, rose midges and rose beetles all have their own creative way to inflict damage. Spider mites spin webs and several types of leaf roller caterpillars (small worms) feed on rose leaves and attack young rosebuds, then deposit their eggs nearby. As injury from any of these pests progresses, leaves turn brown, will curl and drop off. Ultimately, canes can become void of growth and even dry up and wither.

ROSE DISEASES

The four most common rose diseases are: blackspot, powdery mildew, rust and common canker. Rust was quite rampant in some areas last year. This fungal disease produces bright orange pustules on leaves and along canes. Pick off and destroy affected leaves as soon as it’s noticed. Note that rose leaves must be continually wet or moist for 4 hours in order for rust to take hold. Careful watering early in the day and a loose mulch go a long way to preventing trouble. Of course, we have no control over high humidity and frequent rainfall. Canker can develop at points where canes are cut, damaged or pruned.

Periodic dustings with powdered horticultural sulphur or mustard seed powder have been found helpful to control rose diseases. Wettable garden sulphur can be mixed in warm water and sprayed as a liquid emulsion. The container needs to be shaken constantly during application, as sulphur will quickly settle to the bottom.

A brew made from horsetail plant and sprayed on roses, grapes and stone fruit trees controls mildew and powdery fungus. There’s plenty of wild horsetail growing in western Canada, especially in dry, stony areas and along railway tracks. Also, both parsnip foliage and pulverised parsnip roots brewed in warm water make a safe insect spray on many plants.

HELPFUL COMPANION PLANTS

…to grow among roses are numerous. Good pest repelling neighbours include all alliums, chives, garlic, four o’clock, geraniums, parsley and strong-scented marigolds. Anise, coriander, nasturtiums and petunias will help keep beneficial insects nearby. The vast majority of insects are not harmful pests. Effectiveness of companion plants can be amplified by crushing a few of their leaves here and there.