Question:
I know it's late, but I just pruned my roses. There was lots of new growth, so I thinned them a bit and removed the dead wood. Should I spray them with dormant spray? I've had Black Spots in previous years and some mildew, so I'd like to prevent them this year.Answer:
- You’re not too late to prune your roses.
- Roses can be pruned severely or, as you did well into the spring. The only downside is that the pruning may delay flowering.
- In your case, I doubt this will be an issue. You can also trim back to reduce height and bring in the sides.
- However, it is too late to apply dormant spray. If used now, you risk burning the new foliage. Dormant spray cleans up overwintering spores but does not prevent diseases later in the year. Rust, Mildew, and Black Spot are airborne fungi that infect roses when moisture lingers on the foliage after sunset.
- These diseases become a serious problem when the rainy season extends into late April/May. Since the rainy season hasn't concluded, rose diseases remain a concern.
- Additionally, clean up any debris accumulated under the bushes, as fungus spores overwinter in debris.
- You must be proactive with your fungicide to keep the rose leaves pristine. While many fungicides are available to control Rust, Black Spot, and Mildew, none can completely eradicate these diseases.
- To be effective, fungicides must be applied before the diseases appear. Once the problem becomes visible, it's too late to prevent it; the infection likely occurred ten to fourteen days earlier.
- I mentioned in a previous column that Bayer Advanced All-In-One Rose and Flower Care is a unique solution to avoid rose diseases.
- It's a systemic fungicide that provides six weeks of control per application for Rust, Black Spot, and Mildew on roses and many other plants.
- It also controls Aphids and other pests while nourishing your bushes. This three-in-one product isn't sprayed on the plant but is applied to the roots.
- It's available in both granular and liquid forms. One application should be sufficient to keep your roses disease-free with minimal effort.
- I recommend applying it within the next couple of weeks or immediately if it rains.
Question:
Since we moved in last fall, our Meyer lemon has been ripening abundantly, but I don't see any new fruit forming. What should I do to encourage more fruit production?Answer:
- Meyer lemons bloom year-round, typically on new growth, with the fruit maturing accordingly.
- I recommend feeding them Citrus Food monthly from March through November to encourage new growth. You should see flowers followed by fruit formation in about six weeks.
- This could be an ideal time to shape the lemon bush by pruning before production begins anew.