The red spots that you are seeing on the petals of your lighter colored blooms are caused by a fungus called Botritis.

It is a naturally occurring fungus that breaks down dead plant tissue as part of the process that changes organic matter back to soil.  It normally affects only dieing organic material like blooms that have blown and should not be seen as a problem 

Are the Roses beautiful or what?  After a Summer like we just had it is such a thrill to see our wonderful roses once again display their brilliant colors, normal size and sweet fragrances.  I hope you have taken time to walk by yours and enjoy the bounty that only ROSES can provide during the mild days of Fall here in Oklahoma.   

 

 Yes you have seen this critter before this year.  They are present when the nights are cool and the roses are in bloom.  It may be difficult for you to recognize a single one because when you see them in your blooms they normally count in the twenties or more.  In large numbers they will prevent a bloom from opening.

 

If your blooms look balled and are not opening, don't assume that they froze until you pull one apart and look for the presence of the Thrip.  A quick and easy way to check for Thrip is to open the bloom over a piece of white paper and then tap the bloom on the paper.  If they are present on the bloom they will drop to the paper and run in all directions. 

 

It is not to late for you to take action against the intruders.

Spray your roses with Spinosad.  This will kill the Thrip and your roses will bloom on until we get our first hard (below 25 degrees) freeze.

You may have noticed that the Everything Roses Monthly is a day late this month.  That has happened because I have been busy planting roses in my gardens. Over the last couple of days Karen ,Derrick and I have planted and moved more than 15 rose bushes in my Griffith Buck Bed. 

Roses planted in the fall have such an advantage over those planted in the Spring.  This is especially true when you have Summer temperatures like we had this past Summer.  Fall planted Roses are else dormant when you plant them or they will go dormant as soon as the days shorten and the nights cool into the low twenties.   Because of this the newly planted rose can put everything into growing root and the root system will be ready to nourish the bush in the Spring in a big way and will also be ready for the hot, dry summer months. The top of the bush may be dormant but as long as the ground is not frozen the roots will continue to grow.  Last winter when we had nearly 3 foot of snow on the ground in places, the ground did not freeze and in fact was wet under the snow.

 

Those of you who have visited Roses inc. this past year most likely noticed the large Rose bed south of the entrance.  That bed was planted the week before and the week after Christmas last winter.  What you probably didn't know is that it was watered less than five times during this past Summer and bloomed and thrived through the heat and is now very pretty.

 

When planting during the Fall or early winter it is important that you plant large healthy bushes with an established root system.

Roses that are shipped to you in small pots 6 inches or smaller  will not be suitable for planting outside.  Plant the rose bush as you normally would and when you are done make sure to have 4 to 6 inches of shredded pine mulch around the bush at least 3 foot out.  The mulch may not stop the ground from freezing if it gets real cold and stays that way for several days but it will keep the roots growing  all winter if the temperatures are moderate or snow cover is on the ground.

 

If you would like to give Fall planting a try, we would love to help you pick out a Rose Bush from our inventory of over 300 varieties. 

 

Last Summer in my Griffith Buck Rose bed.  (Yes the one I have been planting and moving roses in for the last couple of days), I lost several bushes to what I assumed was a poorly working watering system coupled with Spring planting.  That was a very wrong assumption.  As I pulled the dead bushes from the ground they were missing their roots.  Yes their roots had became fodder for rodents of the Vole and Gopher persuasions.

 

The earth in the bed is as good as it gets for growing roses but because it is friable the voles and gophers were able to tunnel without making a mark on the surface.  No mounds were in the bed nor in the vicinity of the yard.  When I pulled that first dead bush without roots on it I am glad I was alone.  I would have hated for you to have seen the fit I had.  After my tantrum I went to the building where I keep my pesticides and retrieved my gopher tool which was already full of poison seed and set out to do the Gopher and Vole population some real damage.  I pushed the Gopher Tool into the tunnels, twisted the dispensing knob and repeated the action all over the Rose bed.  Then for good measure I walked the surrounding 3 acres and did the same thing everywhere I saw signs of Vole or Gopher activity. The Gopher Tool makes the application of the bait very quick and easy and it keeps me from having to touch the bait or get any on the top of the ground where it could kill birds that would eat it.

 

You may have noticed that I have not written unkindly about Moles.  Though Moles can ruin the appearance of your yard they do little if any damage to your Roses and should be left alone in the beds.  They're tunnels help moisture saturate the earth and they only eat earthworms. 

 

I always get the question; "Won't it kill my pets?"  No it won't if it is applied correctly under the ground in the tunnel.  When the Vole or Gopher eat the bait they will go to their lair to die which is out of the reach of your pets.  I have used this method to control Voles and Gophers for years and have never had a problem with it and my three dogs dig all of the time and catch a Vole or Gopher on at least a weekly basis.

 

If you think that Gophers are Voles are doing damage to your plants, please give Roses inc. a call or come by and we will help you with a solution to your problem.  If I happen to be here I  will be glad to help you wearing a big smile and with great enthusiasm.    

 

I hope this addition of Everything Roses Monthly has been helpful to you.  Remember that you should still be spraying your Rose Bushes until that hard freeze comes.  It is important that they go into winter insect and disease free.  Remember that the staff here at Roses inc. are always happy to answer your rose growing questions and help you with the selection of the right cure for what is ailing your Roses.  Our store number is 918-455-7673.

 

 

Mark