FALL INSECT CARE IN GARDEN ROSES
Hey there! I'm so glad you're back for our first “official” weekly newsletter. I can't wait to dig in more with our topic this month Fall Cleanup. We've been experiencing some unseasonably warm weather here at the farm—over 100 degrees last week! With the unseasonable heat, we're spotting aphids, that usually make their appearance in spring, especially on the roses in our five gallon nursery pots.
Normally, we don't see as many insects in the garden this time of year because the weather cools and their reproductive rate slows, but a warm fall can extend their life cycles longer into the growing season. If you're experiencing a warm fall too, it might be a good time to revisit monitoring for insects that you typically may see in the spring and summer.
Even though the weather is cooling down (or should be!), it's good practice to still monitor your roses weekly for any pesky insects. For this week's actionable tip during our "Fall Cleanup" theme, I challenge you to spend just 10 minutes this week checking your roses for insects. Seriously set a timer on your phone, put your ear buds in with a relaxing song and get out in the garden!
Take a peek inside those buds, gently pull apart the petals, turn over and look under the leaves and give the leaves a good look with a hand lens for those tiny hard to spot little guys. (Sidebar - A quality hand lens is one of the best investments you can make for your garden. If you don't already own one, I highly recommend getting it. Many insect infestations go unnoticed because pests are too small to be seen with the naked eye, making early identification with a lens crucial.)
If you find any uninvited guests and you aren't sure what they are, snap a quick photo, grab a sample to share with your local agricultural extension office or Master Gardeners for help or submit it to me for our weekly newsletter Q & A. Here's a great online resource too from the University of California Cooperative Extension for insect identification garden roses.
Here are my top three pests to watch for this fall, along with some simple treatment recommendations. Remember to follow the package directions for product application rate and always use personal protective equipment when necessary (PPE) to keep yourself save when applying chemicals:
- Aphids: Leave the chemicals behind. Honestly the best treatment (trust me I've tried them all!) for aphids is to spray them off with a strong stream of water from your garden hose or squish them with your fingers. PRO TIP: If you have little kids they LOVE to play the squish the aphids game!
- Thrips: Treat with a Spinosad based organic product like Monterey Garden Insect Care or Conserve SC.
- Spider Mites: Spray with water (especially the undersides of leaves), apply a treatment of Avid or an organic spray of Azadirachtin/Pyrethrin blend.
Timing is everything! Be sure to apply any treatments when it's cooler, like the early morning or late evening, when pollinators are less active. A little check in weekly with your roses will help keep the pest at bay this fall so you'll have beautiful health plants - and even blooms for you warm climate growers😉 - into November.
Thank you for joining me on this exciting journey with my new newsletter. I hope this serves as a gentle nudge of encouragement for you to venture into your garden and enjoy some time there this week.
CHEERS,
THE LIST: THINGS I'M LOVING THIS WEEK
- I recorded an IG Live Interview last week with Natalie Bowen Brookshire the guest floral designer for my Spring Floral Centerpiece Workshop I'm hosting at the farm next May. We chatted all about the WONDERFUL things we have planned for a special workshop experience on the farm and about a cool new collaboration she has with a local ceramicist, Alex Marshall. She designed a gorgeous new vase that had me hitting add to cart with lightening speed. It's the a dusty neutral color that is ideal for all of your floral arrangements year round. It goes with everything!
- If you're on TEAM candy corn keep reading. If not just scroll on down. I don't remember where I originally picked up this recipe but it was on some food bloggers page years ago. Super easy to make and a crazy good fall snack. (It's not healthy but it's so good!) I grabbed all of the ingredients from Target and kids threw it together by themselves this week. Recipe for Fall Candy Corn Trail Mix: 2 bags of candy corn, 1 cup honey roasted peanuts, 1 cup honey roasted almonds, 1 cup honey roasted cashews and 1 cup Reese's Pieces. Throw it in a pumpkin jar or lidded bowl, mix and you're good to go. So simple and seasonal!
- I'm continuing to transition my wardrobe to more cool weather pieces. These BOGS boots have been a staple in my closet for years. (I have them in 3 colors!) They are the PERFECT thickness for those of us farmers and gardeners in warmer climates because they aren't insulated but they provide enough waterproof protection for the rainy season.
- This past week I found myself binge watching Nobody Wants This. I am so glad that classic rom-coms are making a comeback! I love CORNY 90s meet-cute style cinema, how about you?
- Amazon had their Prime Days last week and I finally pulled the trigger on a bunch of random things that were in my cart like this ice maker for my house, a new Nespresso machine for our nursery + boutique and this cute floral pen cup for my office. So what did you pick-up on sale this week that you LOVE? I'm always in the hunt for new items that make my life easier!
Q & A: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Q: When is the best time to harvest roses for longest vase life especially for Queen of Sweden?
Grace from Castro Valley, CA - Zone 9b
A: Hi Grace! Queen of Sweden is such a lovely soft pink rose and the stems are so straight and long. I can see why you want to cut them and make them last! My answer for you today not only applies to the variety Queen of Sweden but to any garden rose that you you want to maximize the vase life.
For the longest vase life, harvest timing, bud stage and temperature are the key factors to consider. Time of day is crucial for extending the vase life for your cut roses. Early morning is preferred but the very late afternoon will do in a pinch. In the morning roses are hydrated, and cooler temperatures ensure the bud will stay closed. My rule of thumb is that if it's above 75 F degrees then it's too warm to harvest roses.
Harvest at the right stage using sharp pruning shears and make a clean cut just above a 5 leaflet set. For Queen of Sweden, which has cup-shaped blooms, aim to cut when the flower is in the "marshmallow" to closed bud stage — when the bud is soft, and the petals are just starting to open but not yet fully unfurled and the sepals (those little triangle shaped green things) that surround the bud are reflexed down. Cutting at this stage allows the bloom to continue developing in the vase. You do not want to cut an open rose bud if your goal is to maximize vase life. If you can see stamens, pistils and pollen in the center of the bloom it is too open to cut!
After cutting, condition the stem placing it in a bucket of water, with floral hydrator or flower food added, in a cool, shaded area or place in a refrigerator to allow them to hydrate before arranging them in a vase. 24 hours is best for hydration but plan on a minimum of 4 hours if you're short on time. Follow these steps and you will have long lasting rose bouquets for 5-10 days!
JOIN THE FUN!
Want this delivered directly to your inbox each week? CLICK HERE to subscribe to my new weekly newsletter, Growing Wonder, for simple tips on thriving roses, gardens, and homes! Each week, subscribers can submit questions for me to answer, and if yours is selected for our Q&A feature, you'll win a $25 digital gift card to the Menagerie Shop!
You can also find me on Instagram for more rose garden inspiration and exclusive behind-the-scenes moments. You can check out my favorite rose varieties and browse garden supplies at the Menagerie Shop! I also have all of things I love for my home, garden and life in easy to find collections on my Amazon Storefront and my new ShopMy Page. I truly enjoy hearing from you, so please don't hesitate to send in any questions you'd like me to answer. Looking forward to connecting again next Sunday!
Photos by: Jill Carmel Photography
This post may contain affiliate links. I make a small commission if you purchase a product from the link. I only recommend products I love and use in hopes they will help you too!
