- Author: Rosie D
The only exception to the not deadheading rule is, if your rose plant has a fungal disease such as botrytis. Botrytis is a gray mold and it makes your flower buds look fuzzy. Cut those blooms off so the disease doesn't spread to other plants in your garden. Also check the leaves to determine if you have any other fungal diseases, such as rust. If so, treat accordingly. Now is also the time to clean away any fallen leaves from underneath your rose bush. Those leaves can harbor fungal spores, so it is best to remove them.
I am always checking to see if my roses made any seed heads this year, known as hips. Since I don't spray, I can use those hips for some nice, calming herbal teas. I also wait until the hips get “ripe” and harvest the seeds. That is how I have grown some of my rose plants. You never know what you are going to get, which is half the fun! You can breed roses for specific results, but that is a whole other process and there are lots of experts out there always willing to offer advice and help.
A lot of people get anxious about pruning their roses and start to do it towards the end of December. I was one of those people. I do not do that anymore. We get cold here in the valley. I wait until the last hard frost date for us. If we do get a hard frost or freeze after I have pruned the plant, it will kill off any new growth that has occurred. It is better to wait six weeks after the last hard frost or until the beginning to the middle of February before you prune your roses.
If you are thinking about adding to your rose collection, now is the time to be looking at those delicious rose catalogs or various rose company websites to see what inspires you. I really enjoy antique rose varieties and there are great companies out there that sell them. One of my favorite antique roses is, of course, Vick's Caprice. Another is Alice Hamilton. Alice was an amazing woman who lived in the United States and made such a difference in the health care field. She was the first woman to be appointed to the faculty of Harvard Medical School. Her beautiful rose is fitting for such an amazing woman.
Until next time ...
"It's ok to feel delicate sometimes. Real beauty is in the fragility of your petals. A rose that never wilts isn't a rose at all.” - Crystal Woods
You can follow the information listed in the hyperlink above about trying to avoid botrytis and rust. Good sanitation practices are important such as removing old blossoms, plant debris, weeds, etc. Avoid wetting leaves and using an irrigation system such as drip can also help. There are a lot of different fungi out there that can cause these situations, so unfortunately, one size does not fit all and prevention is worth a pound of cure.
You can use a dormant oil, such as a neem oil, horticultural oils, or sulfur, as a preventative, but may have to apply it more than once. Make sure you use the precautions listed on the label when applying.
You can also use potassium bicarbonate to help prevent or help to eradicate fungal diseases. There is also a biological fungicide, Bacillus subtilis that can be used as well.
There are roses out there that are more resistant to diseases (especially rust), than others. I have had rose friends tear out certain roses that they described as "rust buckets" and replace them with more resistant varieties as a final resort.
Best of luck in growing your beautiful roses. Most of these fungal conditions will disappear as the weather grows warmer in the spring.