15
Troubles and What to Do About Them
Nothing is as simple as it seems.
ANONYMOUSWherever there is a green blade or leaf, a tender bud or flower, there seems always to be some creature ready to chew, nibble or blight it. Thus the so-called balance of nature can be a teeter totter, sometimes one side is up then the other. If we must have this warfare we should strive for a good balance.
But this is nothing new: Nature has always been a battle ground between the good and the bad guys. Gardeners for centuries have waged war against bugs. Some of the concoctions or remedies which were dreamed up to aid the fight seem rather fantastic. But some of them worked.
To spray or not to spray? is always a garden question. Prevention is always better than cure and we should adhere to this idea whenever possible. But if someone becomes ill do we refuse to call the doctor? Do 'we ignore the need of medicine, no matter how bitter, if it will help make the patient well?
Prevention of troubles can take numerous paths. A prime rule is sanitation. Even though miniature roses are remarkably free of pests they may need your helping hand at times. We must remember that unlike wild roses which are geared for survival in their native habitat, our little miniatures are far from their native home. Most of our present day varieties have no native home. They are a mixture of all the plants from which they were hybridized.
A perfect variety for one area may be a real trouble maker in another. Do you love this "odd" one enough to give it all the special attention it may need? For example, the soil for its successful culture may need to be a little more acid; it may require more drainage than others, and extra attention to prevent mildew.
Prevention of some troubles, as indicated above, may require special soil drainage or fertilizer. General preventative measures consist of: reasonably clean, sanitary growing conditions; attention to proper lighting and feeding; and good air circulation. A well nourished plant in a good growing environment is usually a healthy plant.
But there comes a time in most gardens when dusts or sprays are necessary or at least very helpful. There are gardeners who argue in favor of a multi-purpose insecticidefungicide rose dust or spray which is supposed to take care of whatever may be bothering your plants. For the average gardener this may be best because you won't have to decide just what particular insect or fungus is blighting your roses. Advanced rosarians don't care for this "shotgun" approach; they prefer using something specific. Whatever you use be sure to apply it thoroughly so that all parts of the plant including stems and leaves (on both upper and lower surfaces) are covered.
Read all directions on the package and carefully observe directions for mixing (if necessary) , applying and safety precautions. Store bottles or packages in a safe place out of reach of children and pets.
SPRAYING-we use Malathion for control of aphids and red spider mite and Orthocide (Captan) to control or prevent leaf spot. These two may be combined into one spray solution. To each 5 gallons of water add I ounce Malathion (50% liquid) , 21/2 teaspoons Orthocide (50 W) and 2 teaspoons detergent or spreader-stickcr. Mix well before use.
For other suitable materials see your local nurseryman. All-purpose sprays and rose dusts are obtainable in bottles or packages in various sizes convenient for home use. Some sprays are also available in easy to use aerosol cans.
WHAT DO WE SPRAY FOR?-Usually the two most troublesome pests are aphid and red spider mites. The sprays recommended above will usually control these quite easily but there are also other controls.
For aphids an effective and old-fashioned spray containinnicotine (Black Leaf 40) is recommended. They may also be forcibly dislodged by spraying with it strong stream of water.
OTHER PESTS AND Problems - In addition to aphids and spider mites several other creatures may occasionally give trouble. Among them are snails and slugs, various beetles and in the garden, gophers can be bothersome. For snails and slugs any good bait for the purpose will give control. The various beetles are often of more local concert] so it is best to consult your nurseryman. Gophers can be trapped or exterminated with gopher bombs.
Mildew can be a problem, especially in spring and fall. Daily watering with sprinklers to wash plants free of spores will often give good to reasonable control. Dusting with sulphur is helpful and the all-purpose rose dusts usually contain materials for mildew as well as leaf spot control. Good air circulation is a natural mildew preventative.
A selection of the mildew-resistant varieties will help make your experience with miniatures more enjoyable and carefree. Some mildew-resistant varieties include: 'Easter Morning 'Yellow Doll,' 'Cinderella,' 'Jet Trail,' 'Eleanor,' 'Baby Darling,' 'June Time,' 'Little Buckaroo,' and 'Beauty Secret.'
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