I Have Several Questions For You. I Love To Raise…
Vickie Asked
I have several questions for you. I love to raise flowers. I will ask two questions this round.
I have several rose bushes and I am having a lot of trouble with them having black spots and yellow leaves. I have sprayed and cut back so much I am concerned they will die on me. Any ideas on what to do next ? Also. when is a good time to move your bushes ? I have been told the best time is any month with an R in it (old tale). Please help, I have several that need moving.
The Gardener’s Answer
Hello, Vickie: What kind of roses are you growing? Depending on the type of roses you have in the garden, this may be an ongoing battle. Some of the old-fashioned roses are very susceptible to insect and disease problems. They will require a regular spray routine. Growing disease-resistant roses leads to far less maintenance. Making sure that your shrubs are living in ideal conditions will make them less likely to have problems. Roses demand a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight. Good air movement is important in reducing insect/disease problems and good sanitation practices are essential in maintaining a healthy garden. Remove all plant debris throughout the growing season, but especially during the winter months so that the insects/disease have nowhere to survive the winter. As for transplanting, in general the only time you should not move your plants is during the hotter months of the year (the only months without an R). Late fall through early spring while the plants are dormant is a fine time to transplant, provided the ground is not frozen. Specific plants may establish themselves better during a certain time so let me know if you need specifics.
When it is time to transplant, make sure to start digging farther out and work your way in, being careful not to damage the roots and keep them attached. It is always a good idea to have the new holes dug before you dig up your existing plantings. That way you can get the roots back into the soil as soon as possible. This reduces stress and that is the key to a successful transplant, plus making sure that the newly moved plants have sufficient moisture.
