Feeding & Spraying

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

It helps to think of your rose as a pet!  It needs food & water, protection from insects & disease,  and your rose needs protection in the winter!

You first need to decide whether you want to use an Organic or Non-Organic method of spraying. 

Organic Spraying & Feeding

Once a month, feed your roses by scratching in Espoma Rose Tone into the soil around your rose.  Begin proactively spraying in April, when you start to have leaves on your roses. 

To slow the spread of disease in the plants you have, begin with a weekly clean-up. Deadhead any spent flowers, cutting their stems just above a leaf.  Rake up any fallen leaves and petals. If only a few leaves show disease, remove them; if many do, remove the ones with the worst symptoms. Take all the rose debris out of your garden. 

In order to stay on top of Black Spot, It is important to spray every week, and again after it rains.

Cornell Baking Soda Formula Milk & Water Formula
4 tsp. Baking Soda. 1 part Milk
2 Tblsps. Horticultural Oil 2 parts Water
1 Gallon Water (Expect an odor for a few days, but roses love milk!)

For Japanese Beetles, hand-pick and drop into a container of soapy water. Flush down the toilet at the end of each day to prevent attracting more beetles.
You can also use Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew.

Non-Organic Spraying & Feeding

Due to the number of roses that I spray, I have chosen to use the Non-Organic method.  It has been successful in helping me prevent most of the Black Spot and Japanese beetles.

It is my goal to simplify the feeding and spraying process, so I make up a ‘cocktail’ for my roses by combining the ingredients into my pump sprayer.  (Usually it is a ratio or 1 or 2 Tablespoons to 1 Gallon of water, but read and follow directions on the individual products that you choose.)  Spray every 10 days-14 days.

Begin proactively spraying in April, when you start to have leaves on your roses.  It is important to alternate fungicides so the disease doesn’t become immune to the fungicide. 

Once a month, feed your roses by scratching in Espoma Rose Tone into the soil around your rose.  

Immunox by Spectracide

AND

Miracle Gro Rose Plant Food (pink box)

 In late June, when I see my first Japanese beetle, I add Sevin Insect Killer Concentrate (red bottle).

(Bayer Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed (blue container) is a 12-month granular systemic  that can be used instead of the Ortho Max Lawn & Garden insect Killer.  There is a 3-in-1 product from Bayer for Roses that is available outside of NYS. 

I would still use the Espoma Rose Tone monthly.