re: roses

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Cyndi,

I've been successful growing roses without chemicals, unless you count occassional application of insecticidal soap (rarely)since my biggest problem is aphids.  A master gardener at our local farmers market said she strings garlic gloves through her roses to get rid of aphids and she swears it works like a charm so I will give that a try this year.  I only feed with fish emulsion, if I think of it at the right time of year to feed otherwise they don't get anymore than a dressing of compost.  I followed the suggestion of some knowledgable rose people on the list last year when I had a rust problem and that was to strip the leaves in winter and remove them from the area.  I live in Davis where the summers are long and hot which I guess takes care of molds and rusts and such because once the heat arrives there's no problem.  My soil is heavy clay, but we have amended it with compost and other organic stuff. 

My rose collection consists of Sally Holmes, Eden, Mutabilis, Heritage, Glamis Castle, Evelyn, Jude the Obscure, Bow Bells, Gourmet Popcorn, Zephrine, a species and a rugosa and a banks rose.  They are mostly "own-root" roses which apparently makes them more disease resistent.  I don't love Bow Bells or Zephrine and so I'm considering parting with them, but the others have thrived without a lot of fuss and effort on my part, or chemicals.  Most of them have lovely foliage as well as beautiful flowers, and fragrance beyond anything I ever imagined.

--Melissa   

At 06:29 PM 02/01/2001 , you wrote:

>I am curious. We have half a dozen hybrid tea roses that were installed

>against an east-facing wall by the previous owner of the house. Despite

>getting poor air circulation and only morning sun, I have found they grow

>and bloom beautifully, without any spraying at all. Heck, I only mulch them

>with compost when I think of it. Sure, by mid to late season, there are

>definite signs of rust and black spot but since they give me so many roses,

>I don't care. (As plants, they are ugly as can be anyway, so there are

>medium height perennials in front of them, so only the blooms are showy.) I

>notice they do very well all over yards in our town, so I suspect our heavy

>clay soil, bright days, and cooler nights are something that agrees with

>them.

>

>Has anyone else had luck growing roses with no poisons? Any tips? All the

>books say "impossible" but the more I garden, the more I get the idea that's

>not so.

>

>Cyndi K