Northeast Gardening: 2010 Garden Photos #20, 0 by Tex68

Tex68 wrote:
Jen - anytime! You're not the only one. People in the neighborhood always stop by to 'smell the roses'. And I'm not the only one growing roses here, but I'm proud to say I got the healthiest rose bushes in the neighborhood. It's definitely black spot season, and I see a lot getting defoliated or with brown/yellowing leaves. People around here also don't deadhead or prune their roses which is vital to promote growth.

Patti - Bugs or no bugs, disease or no disease, I do a monthly maintenance of Rose Rx by Bonide. It's mainly neem oil with other organic substance. Not just an insecticide for leaf chewing insects, but it's a good miticide and fungicide as well. I used to do chemicals but this season I've seen an abundance of lady bugs and I don't really want to get rid of the good guys. Water is also essential to rose health. Roses are not drought tolerant and if dried out the more they are susceptible to diseases. Assuming you got good drainage, it is really impossible to over water roses
Funny how you call DA roses "old fashion" when in fact they're modern hybrids. But true they have the look, smell, and charm of the old fashioned roses.

Here's Joseph's Coat: