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Just as it is possible to grow vegetables organically, so too you can maintain your roses through organic gardening. Organic rose gardening is becoming increasingly popular among rose enthusiasts. If you use compost, bought or home made, you can provide sufficient nutrients for your roses. Organic decomposed materials supports the soil, maintains ph and helps soil texture. Roses have been grown by people for thousands of years before man-made chemicals were ever invented and therefore these chemicals do not have to be depended on to have a gorgeous garden of roses. By maintaining an organic yard you are able to increase the longevity of your roses plus keep your family, pets, and wildlife away from harmful chemicals.
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Generally pests and diseases weaken the rose plants but do not kill them. Stock that is healthy is more resistant to pests and fungi.
Leaf problems such as black spot occur because of too much moisture. If you do not spray, make sure you cut off the affected leaves and do not use them for compost.
Some pointers include
- choose appropriate types of roses, suited to the climate in your area. Preferably choose disease resistant strains
- make sure your roses have plenty sun
- keep the soil rich. Add compost and mulch
- make sure there is enough space between plants for air to circulate
- use companion planting to minimize pests
. Soil naturally contains bacteria, fungus, nematodes, worms, plus other organisms. These organisms breakdown dead materials that enrich the soil. Using chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides destroys natural soil organisms and disrupts the natural relationship of the roses and the soil. Also chemical sprays can alter the balance of organisms and destroy beneficial bugs that control aphids for example. Without helpful bacteria to protect rose plant roots, harmful fungi can move in and harm the plant. Plus, it is possible to get your roses addicted to chemical fertilizers. The more you use chemical to liven up your roses, the more the roses will depend on the chemicals.
Growing roses organically is inexpensive and easy. Remember that for centuries roses were grown without synthetic chemicals, and some suggest that growing heirloom roses is a good place to start. The reason these older roses survived is because they are hardy. It helps to start with disease resistant plants. Check with your local nursery what varieties suit your area. Modern strains are also being created that are disease resistant as well, so do your research before you plant . You are simply leaving out the purchase of chemical fertilizers and pest control. You are still able to feed the soil and care for your roses without these things. Some soil might need a little help. The best way to do that is to work compost into the soil of a new garden or as a top dressing or mulch in an existing garden. Anyone can start a compost pile in their yard by adding decaying plant clippings, grass clippings, dried leaves, and even kitchen scraps and allowing it to decompose over time. There are several different, easy ways to create a compost pile in a container or in a pile but most ways require you to stir the pile to ensure that all of the compost is decaying properly.
Organic gardening also means staying away from most types of pest control. But, that does not mean that you are completely helpless against pests. Sometimes pesticides not only kill the insects that are doing damage to your plants, they also kill the insects that help you plants by eating damaging ones. Lady bugs and some wasps are considered beneficial for preying on insect pests. Birds will eat grubs, and even frogs, lizards, and snakes help to prevent pest problems. If a pesticide is truly needed, rose plant owners can purchase organic or natural pesticides that are very effective and are less toxic. Plus, they can target a specific problem by killing that type of pest insect and not much else. Be careful though of strong garlic and tobacco sprays, which although natural , can be very strong . Tobacco spray can be very toxic.
Growing roses organically is not new. Centuries of roses have shown us that it is possible to cultivate lush gardens that produce copious blossoms. In fact there are many gardeners who feel we cosset our roses far too much, and that by choosing the right strains, we can make our tasks that much simpler.
