Roses should have been pruned by now and winter mulch pulled away from trunk. Beds need to be totally cleaned of last year’s leaves which carry the spores for black spot.
By Chris Cohan
Roses should have been pruned by now and winter mulch pulled away from trunk. Beds need to be totally cleaned of last year’s leaves which carry the spores for black spot. Fertilize with any complete organic fertilizer. Add ½ cup of Epsom salts and cultivate all into soil at base of plant. Always keep the beds free of fallen rose debris.
For lawns, apply Corn Gluten for crabgrass control now. Crabgrass is an annual which occurs in sunny locations and tends to take over. If you need to do patching, apply sterile topsoil, add seed, top dress with more soil, lightly hay mulch, and keep well watered.
Milky Spore powder is an effective and natural control alternative to highly toxic chemical treatments to combat Japanese beetle grubs and other soil-borne pests.
