Basic Rose Care
Rose Expert, Bill Dickerson, talks about basic rose care. He starts with pruning. Roses should be pruned in late winter. Cut the rose canes to 12-16 inches – the larger canes can be longer, the smaller canes shorter. First cut out the dead wood, then the spindly branches. Prune the bush to be open in the center. That increases air circulation which reduces disease.
There are many rose fertilizers on the market. In the spring Bill uses cotton seed meal and alfalfa pellets. These build the soil. He also uses Epsom salts and some nitrogen fertilizer. He will then use additional fertilizers throughout the year. When buying rose plants go to a nursery so you can get a good quality rose and the nursery can recommend plants that will do well in your area. Rose plants need about 1 inch of water a week throughout the year. Roses like dry feet so don’t overwater. Flowers that are mature or starting to wilt should be cut to encourage future growth. The rose stem should be cut back to above a five leaf cluster. The plant will produce a new rose in 40-45 days. Black spot is the main disease of roses. It starts with a black spot on the leaf. The leaf will turn yellow, die, and fall off. Black spot is a fungal disease so fungicides need to be applied to reduce it. Fungicides are only preventative in nature and do not cure a damaged leaf. You will have to spray every week or so. Also, clean up the diseased leaves from the ground. Mulching helps conserve moisture and reduce black spot. Related Resources: Growing Roses Pruning Roses Roses: fertilizing |
Tomato Hornworms
This week in the garden UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper goes looking for tomato hornworms. He talks about how to find them and how to use BT to kill them. >>Watch
Other things to do
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Gardening Terms
Horticulture expert Dr. Lelia Kelly defines gardening terms: Blight, Crown, Green Manure, Scarification, Sweet/Sour Soil
Wet Feet >>Watch |
Garden Crafts For Kids
Mississippi State University Extension Horticulture Specialist Dr. Lelia Kelly talks about fun gardening activities and crafts to do with kids. >>Watch
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Garden Safety
Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison talks about staying safe in the garden. He talks about several things that can prove dangerous in the garden. >>Watch
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Summer Lawn Problems
There are many diseases that can affect a lawn in the summer. UT Extension Agent Booker T. Leigh talks about the cause and cure for many diseases and how to keep them from coming back next year. >>Watch
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Fire Ant Control
Fire ants are common in the southeast United States. Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison talks about fire ants and how to control them. >>Watch
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Squash Pests
UT Extension Entomologist Dr. Frank Hale talks about the most common pests of squash. >>Watch
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Viewer Questions
Why are my chrysanthemums blooming in April?
Chrysanthemums are thought of as a fall blooming plant. They are photoperiodic which means they will start to bloom as the days get shorter in the fall. >>Watch
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Why didn’t my columbine and Virginia bluebells bloom this spring?
These plants take a few years to bloom after they are planted. They will probably flower in future years. >>Watch
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What are these green caterpillars by my peanut plants?
This is an alfalfa caterpillar. They feed on legumes. They can cause major damage to alfalfa. If you would like to control it, a BT product will do the trick. >>Watch
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