Pest of the month
Spider mites
 | Spider mite damage
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With the temperatures as high as they are and the drought in place the possibility of spider mites doing damage to your roses is significant. It is a good idea to add Tetra San to your spray mix and spray every two or three weeks. Be sure you spray under the leaves and spray to drip. You can add the Tetra San to your other pesticides in the tank or spray it with a half of a teaspoon of sticker per gallon of water. The spider mites can complete their life cycle in less than a week in this heat so by the time you see damage they are out of control. If that is the case than the Tetra San will bring them back under control because it kills all stages of their life cycle including the eggs. The damage they have done will not heal even after the mites are gone but new leaves will come in as soon as the temperatures moderate.
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Don't Over water Yes you can and many do over water their roses in this heat and drought. Unless your Roses are planted in sand they should be watered a maximum of once a week! It is very important that the root systems of the roses go deep into the earth and if you water daily they will not. Water deep once a week in the morning. I have Buck roses that are planted here at Roses inc. that have not been watered at all this year that look good.
The leaves looking wilted during the day is not a sign of drying out if they look normal in the mornings prior to the heat. If you think they are dry than move the mulch and see if the soil under the mulch is moist to at least 6". If it is, do not water.
If you would like to give your Rose bushes some relief from the heat, do the following. In the heat of the day when the Sun is beating down on the bushes, spray them with a cooling spray of water over the leaves. Forget what you have heard about it hurting them. It won't. The evaporation of the water will cool the bushes 15 degrees or so and they will really perk up.
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Store Hours I am around the house most of the time everyday.
If you will call 918-455-7673 first you can be sure to catch me. If I do not answer, leave a message and I will call you back. I do not stay in the store but rather I have a button on the store door that will ring a bell inside the house if pushed. Give me a minute and I will be out. I am sorry but this is the best I can do for the time being.
Mark
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