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Pardon your Rose Garden
by Sydni Ingram | Thomas County Extension Agent
There are numerous things that cause issues for roses , but there are also solutions , primarily for gardeners that keep a close eye on their garden . Insects and disease seemingly plague roses like no other plant in our Georgia gardens . Some pests of roses include ; scale insects , thrips , aphids , mites , black spot of rose , and powdery mildew . Having a healthy plant at the start of the season helps it to fare better against these pests so careful management is essential .
Take a soil sample to ensure that your roses have the nutrients that they need , in the right amounts , available to them . Take several soil cores in a random pattern throughout your garden , mix them in a plastic bucket , and scoop about two cups out to submit for your sample . Soil samples can be submitted to your local UGA Extension office for a small fee and you can expect your results back in about a week . Knowing the right amount of fertilizer to use will save you money and a headache trying to guess and get it right . Soil sampling is especially important if you plan on establishing a new garden , otherwise you can sample annually for an existing garden .
Correct irrigation scheduling is also important . Watering too frequently will result in root disease , too little water will cause foliar dieback . It is best not to wet plant leaves when watering because that will likely lead to fungal disease . If this is not an option for you because you have overhead irrigation , no worries ! When using irrigation systems that will wet foliage , rather than the root zone , just water your garden in the morning so that leaves can have plenty of time to dry . Applying mulch around the base of your plants will increase your soil ’ s water
24 April | May 2022 Thomasville Scene