I've inherited wild roses as well as about 10 nonwild rose species (couldn't tell you what kind - all have one rose to a stem) along with my new home. Only this past summer did I learn the difference between the word "annual" and "perennial" so can't claim to have alot of knowhow.
Unfortunately, the majority of the plants are covered with blackspot (not the wild ones), and I've done little to protect them other than watering and pruning over the summer.
I don't want to kill these guys but I don't want to harm my toddler, 2 dogs, or 7 cats either (all [the animals at least] have free access to the yard). I see your recommendation of neem oil over and over but am wary of chemicals (even "safeish" ones like neem). I know about cleaning debris and mulching and even invested $150.00 in a plastic bucket that promises to produce "compost Tea" (supposedly a cure-all). Please tell me how to go about maintianing these guys (the wild ones too) without endangering the other inhabitants of my yard. Thanks so much, Wendy
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The Helpful Gardener
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Ther compost tea will actually help with black spot; good fungii attacking bad, as it were. Neem really is safe; Indian folks have been using the twigs as toothbrushes for thousands of years and Ayurveda is considered by many to be the root of modern medicine, so consider it medically sanctioned for three thousand years or so 
.
Those wild roses may well be multiflora roses; they are the top of the invasive list for many parts of the country so I'd look into that or you may find you've no yard at all in a year or two. Best not to give that particular rose a place to live...
Scott
.Those wild roses may well be multiflora roses; they are the top of the invasive list for many parts of the country so I'd look into that or you may find you've no yard at all in a year or two. Best not to give that particular rose a place to live...
Scott
Hi Wendy,
Congratulations on your new home! It's wonderful to read that you care about the environment (your kids and pets included in this) and are concerned about the use of chemicals. As Scott has said, the use of Neem oil has gone on for centuries. Gardening organically is not just a mindset, but a way of life that allows nature to take care of itself by the practices that you use. I can recommend several sites for reading, so let me know if you are interested.
I don't know why you would need such an expensive bucket to make compost tea. Just about ANY recepticle will work, except those that contained toxic chemicals. If you find a 5 gallon bucket from a food source (such as pickles) you can use that. An old plastic wash tub will also work, again depending on what it was used for previously. You can put the compost and/or manure in an old pair of pantyhose and let it soak in the water.
I would like to suggest that you register so you can receive e-mail notification that a response has been posted to your question. Knowing what state and hardiness zone you are in would also be helpful to us as well. You can do this is a way that no one would know your personal e-mail addy and your privacy is maintained. Here's a zip code zone finder.
https://www.arborday.org/trees/whatzone.html
There are many safe products you can use to fight fungal and insect pests in your garden that you can easily find in your kitchen.
https://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=204
If you respond to this post, I can give you more sites and help with being a new gardener, but it's alot of typing and I don't know if you will return since you aren't registered.
Newt
Congratulations on your new home! It's wonderful to read that you care about the environment (your kids and pets included in this) and are concerned about the use of chemicals. As Scott has said, the use of Neem oil has gone on for centuries. Gardening organically is not just a mindset, but a way of life that allows nature to take care of itself by the practices that you use. I can recommend several sites for reading, so let me know if you are interested.
I don't know why you would need such an expensive bucket to make compost tea. Just about ANY recepticle will work, except those that contained toxic chemicals. If you find a 5 gallon bucket from a food source (such as pickles) you can use that. An old plastic wash tub will also work, again depending on what it was used for previously. You can put the compost and/or manure in an old pair of pantyhose and let it soak in the water.
I would like to suggest that you register so you can receive e-mail notification that a response has been posted to your question. Knowing what state and hardiness zone you are in would also be helpful to us as well. You can do this is a way that no one would know your personal e-mail addy and your privacy is maintained. Here's a zip code zone finder.
https://www.arborday.org/trees/whatzone.html
There are many safe products you can use to fight fungal and insect pests in your garden that you can easily find in your kitchen.
https://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=204
If you respond to this post, I can give you more sites and help with being a new gardener, but it's alot of typing and I don't know if you will return since you aren't registered.
Newt
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The Helpful Gardener
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Thanks for the help, Newt.
Let it be known that Newt volunteers time here and does a great job of keeping us all informed of wonderful links and sites to help ALL of us learn more; I am no exception to that group! We at HG would like to thank and commend Newt for the time and effort he puts in here on a regular basis...
Kudos!
Scott
Let it be known that Newt volunteers time here and does a great job of keeping us all informed of wonderful links and sites to help ALL of us learn more; I am no exception to that group! We at HG would like to thank and commend Newt for the time and effort he puts in here on a regular basis...
Kudos!
Scott
Scott,
You are so kind to say that. I enjoy helping others and trying to save the critters in our environment as well. I became chemical sensitive a few years ago and have learned a different way to garden through necessity. I have also learned much by researching answers to the questions and it's heartwarming to know that I have been able to share that with others and make a difference. It has been most rewarding too. You did make me blush!
Now I will tell you that I'm a she, not a he. Most people think I'm a he as well, so I guess it's the Gingrich guy that comes to mind.
Again, thanks for your kind words. You made me smile too.
Newt
You are so kind to say that. I enjoy helping others and trying to save the critters in our environment as well. I became chemical sensitive a few years ago and have learned a different way to garden through necessity. I have also learned much by researching answers to the questions and it's heartwarming to know that I have been able to share that with others and make a difference. It has been most rewarding too. You did make me blush!
Now I will tell you that I'm a she, not a he. Most people think I'm a he as well, so I guess it's the Gingrich guy that comes to mind.
Again, thanks for your kind words. You made me smile too.
Newt
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The Helpful Gardener
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- Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 9:17 pm
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