Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-07-08
Protecting the Roses
Rose Authority Gives Methods Necessary
In Growing Healthy, Heovy-B|oonoing Plants
By w. n. Younemon
Gorden Editor

Editor
lall-purpose spray or dust will do
a very creditahle job If applied
regularly and thoroughly. In this
connection it should be pointed
out that DR.. Westcott uses such a
mixture on the roses in her clients
gardens.
The removal of diseased leaves is
practicable If not more than 5 per
cent are infected. Where more
than that are diseased, it is better
to leave them on because the
plants cannot properly function
when defoliated. A badly diseased
plant should continue to receive
the spray or dust to prevent
spread of the disease.
Didn't Know Saw Fly.
DR.. Westcott was not acquainted
with our problem of controlling the
saw fly, also known as the pith
borer. 1t is a small, very active
insect. that bores into the ends
of canes that have been pruned.
The cut should, according to the
Instruction Committee of the
Potomac Rose Society. be protected
with tree dressing, asbestos
cement or other coating to prevent
the entry of this pest which
causes the damaged canes to die.
DR.. Westcott indicated in many
ways that she believes rose beds
should be mulched during the
summer both to prevent the
growth Of weeds and to keep the
roots cool and functioning. In
this area mulching will undoubt-
eddy give greater benefits than
in the New York area. The kind
of material to be used makes little
difference so long as it does not
detract from the appearance i. of
the garden. DR.. WeStcott removes
the mulch in the fall for the rea-
son that she does not believe any
moisture-holding material should
be in contact with the canes dur
ing the winter. This is especially
true where the roses are mounded
for winter protection. Where
is practiced the mound
would be made with soil or sand
containing the minimum percent
of humus. DR.. Westcott is not at
all sure that mounding is neces-
sary.
Shallow cultivation is most i'm
portant according to DR.. West
colts experience and she empha-
sized this point several times.
Shallow cultivation is needed to
control weeds and to insure ade-
quate soil aeration.
Fertilization Necessary.
BY following these simple rules
it is her contention that anyone
IAN grow good roses. Fertilization
is necessary for good growth and
production of bloom.
But overlooking can produce soft
growth that will winter
kill unless the feeding is discon-
tinued by the first of August. The
use of plenty OF compost in the
planting hole is advisable but DR..
Westcott is not at all certain that
a layer of drainage material I'M
the bottom is necessary. In fact,
she indicated her belief that til
might do more harm than good
but. subsoil drainage must be
provided where needed. II an i'm
pervious layer of soil prevents SUBJ
surface drainage then it should
be broken up. Or, if that is not
some other means
must be provided but the layer Of
rocks in the bottom of the bed
is not the best answer.
DR.. Westcott is not in favor Of
the heavy pruning that was for
merly the general recommended
ton. The removal Of dead and
weak wood is, of course, important.
but the rest Of the bush should
only be lightly pruned if the
strongest growth is to be at
tanned. The grower of exhibition
roses may take exception to this
rule, but that was not within the
scope of her talk-"Any One Can
Grow Good Roses"
Watering should be done in the
as far as possible and
even then the soil alone should
be thoroughly moistened. Wet
foliage encourages disease.
To summarize: DR.. Westcott
stated that the planting Of healthy
bushes in the fall is
essential to a good start. Fall
planted roses should be mounded.
Remove the mounds early in the
spring, feed. cultivate as shallow
ly as possible, mulch and spray or
dust regularly. A simple program.
but one which she has demon
strated many times will produce
good roses.