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Print Rose Spraying
Many rose varieties are susceptible to pests and diseases. Simple spray programmes can prevent pest and disease problems.
Summer Spraying
There are two basic methods of spraying roses throughout the growing season.
1 - Preventative Spraying
- Spray the roses regularly (every two weeks) with PLANThealth Spectrum to prevent the disease from taking hold.
- This is highly effective resulting in very clean, glossy, healthy-looking roses and controls a wide range of diseases and pests. It is advisable to alternate between the 2 different types of spray to prevent a build-up of resistance to the one spray.
2 - Targeted Spraying
- Spray your roses with PLANThealth Fungus Control, PLANThealth Spectrum or a PLANThealth product specific to the pest or disease when they are attacked by a pest or disease (see PLANThealth Range).
- This way you can spray the most effective spray for the disease your rose has.
- When your roses are clean, don't spray at all. You may be surprised by how long your roses go without showing up any disease or pests (or not). The old adage, prevention is better than cure applies here though, so be prepared to spray 2 or 3 times to eradicate stubborn diseases.
Method 1 is the most effective way to keep roses looking good all season long. Although it is more time consuming and costly, most keen gardeners prefer this method over the second.
Method 2 is more for casual gardeners who do not mind the odd bug or spots on their plants. However, it runs the risk of pests or disease taking hold, meaning the pest or disease is more difficult to get rid of. Resulting in unhealthy looking roses and perhaps more spraying and higher cost.
Winter Spraying
In winter the eggs of insect pests and the spores of diseases over-winter in the buds and in crevices on the stems of roses. This winter spray programme kills these over-wintering pests and diseases so that in spring when buds open the rose is 'clean' and less likely to be attacked.
- Spray 1 application of Kiwicare Organic Super Sulphur.
- One week later prune roses (see How to Prune Roses).
- Spray 1 more application of Kiwicare Organic Super Sulphur.
- Two weeks later spray 1 application of Kiwicare Organic Super Spraying Oil.
- At first sign of new spring growth, spray one application of a PLANThealth Copper Fungicide Liquid.
Note:
- Organic Super Sulphur and Organic Super Spraying Oil (like all sulphurs and oils) must not be mixed together.
- Oil and copper can be mixed together and is often done as the oil can help the copper to stick to the roses.
- Copper washes off easily and may need to be reapplied after rain.
- Copper helps protect new growth from frosts that occur in late spring.
- Liquid copper adheres to leaves better than powdered copper and won't shrink away from the leaf edge as it dries, thereby ensuring better coverage and protection.
- When there is considerable new spring growth, stop oil and copper and start summer sprays as oil and copper mixes may burn the new foliage.
David Brittain
Kiwicare
