Hi guys,
Last year I read some articles on companion plants. After reading the benefits of garlic being the best companion plant for roses, that repells pests I have decided to do a trail test on a few yellow roses that attracts green and white flies most.
Spring just started and I have only one yellow rose out of 6 that I have tested caught some tiny green flies, which I sprayed (biocarbonate, garlic, and mild soap mix).
It is believed that the garlic will intensify the color and fragrance of roses, I wonder do anyone has any experiences?
Lastly, I wonder will the 5 gloves of garlic I plantes around each rose do any harm by over crowding the rose roots? Should I "harvest them in certain season to make room for my roses?
Thanks in advance.
Cheers,
Pixi
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grandpasrose
- Greener Thumb
- Posts: 1651
- Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 12:21 pm
- Location: Quesnel, BC, Canada - Zone 4a
Bonjour Pixi!!
First of all, I will start with your last question. No, your garlic will not interfere with the rose roots. Garlic roots are much shallower than the roots of the rose, so they should be fine. I wouldn't harvest your garlic until it is ready to be harvested.
Regarding garlic improving color and fragrance, I have not had any personal experience with this, but in Bulgaria, where they produce attar of roses which is used in perfumes, it is common practice to plant garlic as it produces a stronger perfume and in larger quantities.
There are several other companion plants that are beneficial to roses as well, although garlic is the most well known.
Some of these plants are: Tansy, Mignonette, Allium, Geranium, Tomato, Chives, Marigolds, Parsley, Lupine, and Rue.
Let us know how your trials turn out - be good to know from someone first hand instead of just from a book!
Salut mon ami expérimental!
Val
First of all, I will start with your last question. No, your garlic will not interfere with the rose roots. Garlic roots are much shallower than the roots of the rose, so they should be fine. I wouldn't harvest your garlic until it is ready to be harvested.
Regarding garlic improving color and fragrance, I have not had any personal experience with this, but in Bulgaria, where they produce attar of roses which is used in perfumes, it is common practice to plant garlic as it produces a stronger perfume and in larger quantities.
There are several other companion plants that are beneficial to roses as well, although garlic is the most well known.
Some of these plants are: Tansy, Mignonette, Allium, Geranium, Tomato, Chives, Marigolds, Parsley, Lupine, and Rue.
Let us know how your trials turn out - be good to know from someone first hand instead of just from a book!
Salut mon ami expérimental!
Val
Merci Val!
The few roses I had planted garlic last fall have no sign of pests except a yellow rose with some aphid (green flies). To me, it seems to work well as the few roses I had experimented with garlic were very prone to aphid last year.
As for stronger fragrance or not, I will keep you guys posted.
Bon weekend !
Pixi
The few roses I had planted garlic last fall have no sign of pests except a yellow rose with some aphid (green flies). To me, it seems to work well as the few roses I had experimented with garlic were very prone to aphid last year.
As for stronger fragrance or not, I will keep you guys posted.
Bon weekend !
Pixi
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grandpasrose
- Greener Thumb
- Posts: 1651
- Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 12:21 pm
- Location: Quesnel, BC, Canada - Zone 4a
I actually hadn't heard of planting garlic with roses - how interesting.
Also good to know of other companion plants to go with roses. Far too often you see roses grown all by themselves, and they can look so much better and the colors of the blooms stand out so much more when there is a backdrop or "filler" growing in there too!
Also good to know of other companion plants to go with roses. Far too often you see roses grown all by themselves, and they can look so much better and the colors of the blooms stand out so much more when there is a backdrop or "filler" growing in there too!
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opabinia51
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 4659
- Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 5:58 pm
- Location: Victoria, BC
Hi guys,
Thanks for your feedbacks and encouragements.
I am quite excited this Spring to see those many new blooms in my garden. Still rather tiny though. Have been using garlic spray (with Espom salt and biocarbonate) weekly to discourage aphid and other pests that might weaken my blooms.
Last year, I had drastically altered the soil quality and made some experiments with some new technics of organic fertilizing and keeping the soil moist with feathers (old pillows) and dried vegetables fibres. Hope to see if they work well or not by mid of May. Will keep you guys updated if they are sucressful.
Bon weekend!
Pixi
Thanks for your feedbacks and encouragements.
I am quite excited this Spring to see those many new blooms in my garden. Still rather tiny though. Have been using garlic spray (with Espom salt and biocarbonate) weekly to discourage aphid and other pests that might weaken my blooms.
Last year, I had drastically altered the soil quality and made some experiments with some new technics of organic fertilizing and keeping the soil moist with feathers (old pillows) and dried vegetables fibres. Hope to see if they work well or not by mid of May. Will keep you guys updated if they are sucressful.
Bon weekend!
Pixi
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CatGiorgia
- Newly Registered
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 1:44 am
- Location: Theocratic Plutocracy of No. Amer.
I just joined this forum, and I have this to add: when I planted my roses, I also planted chives in between; I don't remember where I read this recommendation of a companion-plant but, not only do I get yummy chives for salads and casseroles, but when the chives bloom in late summer, the clover-like flowers are a very beautiful mauve and very nice to dry.
The only problem I've had is that one of the neighborhood cats thinks that the chives make a fine bed, so I have to put a small bit of fencing around the bigger plants so that they don't get flattened by the cat!
The only problem I've had is that one of the neighborhood cats thinks that the chives make a fine bed, so I have to put a small bit of fencing around the bigger plants so that they don't get flattened by the cat!
Hello CatGiorgia,
In France we get a lot of visiting from our neighbours cats in our garden too, therefore I understand your situation very well.
Normally, cats will not get too near to our thorny roses. It worth the effort to check if there are some thrown in materials as organic fertilizer non totally composed or not properly covered, example fish parts or banana peels.
Personally, I am do not like the idea of fencing my roses. It costs both time and money. Maybe you should try to using odour to repell the cat's visit instead. For me, I use cleaning vinegar with water and oil. It drives away cats effectively as cats are 50% more sensitive to odour than dogs. Give a few pumps of spray around the compound. It drives both the cats and pests away from your garden, far from your roses
Cheers,
Pixi
In France we get a lot of visiting from our neighbours cats in our garden too, therefore I understand your situation very well.
Normally, cats will not get too near to our thorny roses. It worth the effort to check if there are some thrown in materials as organic fertilizer non totally composed or not properly covered, example fish parts or banana peels.
Personally, I am do not like the idea of fencing my roses. It costs both time and money. Maybe you should try to using odour to repell the cat's visit instead. For me, I use cleaning vinegar with water and oil. It drives away cats effectively as cats are 50% more sensitive to odour than dogs. Give a few pumps of spray around the compound. It drives both the cats and pests away from your garden, far from your roses
Cheers,
Pixi
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CatGiorgia
- Newly Registered
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 1:44 am
- Location: Theocratic Plutocracy of No. Amer.
Actually, what I fence in are the chives... I have this very light, one-foot tall wire fence (which is intended to be only decorative) which works fine in a small circle around the chives.
And, I actually use the old, dried rose canes (left over from Spring prunning) to stick as organic and non-intrusive posts within all of my flower and vegetable beds: I've found that these thorny "sentries" serve very well as a deterent for both cats and racoons who would otherwise find digging in newly-planted soil very easy.
And, I actually use the old, dried rose canes (left over from Spring prunning) to stick as organic and non-intrusive posts within all of my flower and vegetable beds: I've found that these thorny "sentries" serve very well as a deterent for both cats and racoons who would otherwise find digging in newly-planted soil very easy.