Powdery Mildew on Roses

Powdery Mildew is showing up on Tucson's Roses
•Mildew can be kept in check by using Funginex. It is best to spray Funginex as a preventative for mildew on a weekly basis, rather than waiting for the problem to show up. It's harder to prevent damage once it's started.
Information provided by the Tucson Rose Society

Care for your roses as the weather heats up!

We have been talking the past few weeks about caring for your roses in April . It is key to continue to water your roses and increase the frequency to three times per week as the temperatures rise, especially as they consistently climb above 85 degrees. In addition, water to 18-24 inches deep. You do not want the soil soggy; however, you do not want the soil to dry before the next watering. To assist in retaining moisture in the soil, apply a 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch. If you have any other questions around roses, drop in a comment.

Happy Gardening!

Rose Care for April

Spring is in the air and I receive a lot of questions on rose care. So let’s focus on rose care for April.

Now is the time to begin a proper fertilization schedule, and at each step be sure to water well the night before fertilizing:

1. For the first week use an organic fertilizer, scratch into the earth and water.
2. Two weeks later, use a water soluble fertilizer.
3. Use a fish emulsion once per month to help get microorganisms growing.

And remember, if you have newly planted roses, DO NOT fertilize, until after their first bloom!