Friday 20 August 2010

A Handy Guide To Organic Rose Gardening

Organic rose gardening is fast becoming the 'in' thing with gardeners across the globe.  Natural gardening products definitely have more lasting effects and health benefits when compared to their chemical counterparts. Fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, and other garden products made of chemicals can be damaging to the health of your pets and children.

While you plan your rose garden, factor in simple preventive and precautionary organic methods to stave off diseases and pests.

Intersperse different plants with your rose bushes to keep insects down. Alliums repel nematodes while Nasturtiums trap aphids. Several plants like Geranium, Thyme, Alyssum, and Rosemary attract good insects. Spray the foliage with clean water once a week in the mornings to wash off spider mites.

Maintain at least two feet gap between plants to avoid diseases. Always water only the roots and avoid splashing onto the leaves as this leads to fungal diseases.

Check your rose bushes regularly for disease and pest attacks. Immediately remove and burn all damaged, diseased, or dead leaves and canes.

Feed your roses regularly in spring, after pruning, while they are in bud, and in mid-summer with a well-balanced organic fertilizer. Stop fertilizing about six weeks ahead of frost. Several good fertilizers can help your plant develop immunity to disease and encourage vigorous growth. 

Crab Mealis an excellent fertilizer that helps stifle nematodes. It adds life to the soil by feeding microorganisms in the soil especially chitin, a protein which provides nitrogen in small quantities over a prolonged period.

Coffee Groundsprovide a rich source of nitrogen to the soil.

Soybean Mealis another nitrogen-rich fertilizer. It has high concentrations of protein which when broken down by microbes provides organic nitrogen.

To take care of pest attacks, you can prepare good organic pesticides at home with very little effort. Do remember that even though it may be entirely organic it is still toxic and must be used carefully.

Hot Pepper-Spearmint-Horseradish Spray: Take half cup each of green onion tops, roots and leaves of horseradish, hot red peppers, and fresh spearmint. Mix it all in a container with sufficient water to cover the ingredients. Strain the concoction. Then add two tablespoons of liquid soap and a half-gallon of water. To use, mix half-gallon of solution with half-gallon of water and spray.

Garlic Spray: Crush one garlic bulb and mince thoroughly. Finely chop one medium sized onion and add to the minced garlic. Add a quart of water and stir in a tablespoon of cayenne pepper. Let the solution settle for an hour and then add a tablespoon of a dishwashing liquid. You can store for a week in a refrigerator and spray whenever necessary.

Alcohol Spray: Stir in two tablespoons of any dry detergent with half cup of alcohol and one quart of warm water. Mix thoroughly and spray immediately. You cannot store this solution.

Organic rose gardening is your best option for cultivating healthy roses.

Friends Link : Ginger Bar Buy Cheap Mushrooms & Truffles | LOWER Prices

No comments:

Post a Comment