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RE: 1st Attempt to grow roses in Houston (or anywhere)

William, some advice from my perspective here in Alaska (I know!).  I grow
many roses and hybrid teas in containers, as it tends to warm their roots
faster and I can start them early in the season in a greenhouse.  The
Grootendoorst is a good rugosa cultivar for up here (zone 4) so you can see
that it needs the cooler temperatures.  I would not place any containers in
hot sun (or at least where the sun would hit the containers).  Also, as far
as organic methods for disease control, with our damp, cool August weather,
we are very prone to powderdy mildew, and also in the off season in the
greenhouse for those I winter over, I can have a problem with black-leg....I
have for the last year been using Neem Oil, a totally organic product from
the Neem tree, on my roses, and have had very good success with regular
spraying of the foliage with this product.  It claims on the label (the one
I am trying is called "Rose Defense" from Green Light Products) that it will
control both pests and disease, and to tell you the truth, I have good
success with it controling both.  However, I have only tried it for one
season, and we had a warm summer this year (comparitively speaking), and all
I can say is two things I almost always get are spider mites and powdery
mildew on at least a couple of less resistant roses that I always insist on
growing, and I got neither this year. I will continue to test it, and as
with most organic products, use as a preventative measure is always more
fruitful than using after you already have the problem.  Good Luck! Linda
Seaman
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