Test PB Collection: FTE

Most commercial roses are grafted. That means there are a rootstock and a scion to every plant. The rootstock is usually a rose that is very vigorous. Sometimes the rootstock will send up shoots from the base of the plant. These shoots are the suckers and they should be pruned off.

This may be caused by several factors: high soil salts chronic water stress high temperatures windy conditions high light exposure When excess soil salts are present and taken up by the plant, they accumulate at the leaf tip and leaf margins.

A number of years ago, researchers in Illinois (as I recall) placed a number of young trees in a greenhouse. One group was supported by (tied to) a stake. A second group was left to grow unstaked. And a third group was left unstaked but manually waved back and forth for several minutes every day.

Studies have shown that most turf grasses used on the Central Coast transpire (use) about one-third of an inch of water per day during the summer months.

Pests, Viruses, and Diseases Menu Asparagus Avocado Nutrient Defieiency Avocado Fruit Set Chilling Hours Citrus Fruit Cracking Compacted Soil Compost and Composting Eucalyptus Mulch Fertilizing Fruit Trees Fertilizing Potted Plants Fireplace Ash Fruit Splitting Growing Avocado from Seed Growing a Pi...

Aphids on Citrus Black Fly Botrytis Brown Rot Cabbage Looper California Red Scale Codling Moth Fig Rust Fireblight Honeydew and Sooty Mold Late Blight on Tomatoes Omnivorous Leafroller Orange Worms Peach Leaf Curl Powdery Mildew Pumpkin Viruses Root Know Nematode Scale on Citrus Squash Virus Tomato...

There are several species of aphids that will infest citrus on the Central Coast. The cotton/melon aphid, Aphis gossypii feed on the underside of young leaves, causing curling and distortion. To control infestations of aphids, spray the infested foliage (no need to spray the whole tree).

Black flies, Buffalo gnats or Turkey gnats are true flies not a bee, wasp or ant. They are very small one to five millimeters long and usually black to gray in color. Black flies tend to bite where clothing fits tightly against the body.

With the late and often heavy spring rains, Botrytis gray mold has been an unusually severe problem. Rose flowers have in many instances been severely blighted. Jasmine, geranium plus other garden flowers and vegetables have also been affected.

Brown rot of apricots and other stone fruits (plums, peaches, prunes, cherries, and nectarines) can be a serious problem for Central Coast gardeners. Brown rot is caused by a fungus which can attack all parts of the tree. Buds, twigs, and fruit are the primary infection sites, however.