Author Archives: rosesgreatermilwaukeerosesociety4648

Japanese Beetles

by Diane Sommers, Master Rosarian No series on rose bugs would be complete without a discussion on Japanese Beetles. Japanese beetles have been a significant problem in our rose gardens for years. I first saw these pests while on an Indiana garden tour during an ARS National Convention. I was so glad they were notContinue reading “Japanese Beetles”

Dragonflies

Between the Leaves – A Closer Look at Garden Bugs By Diane Sommers As I began to plan for my series of articles on “bugs”, I had penciled in Green Lacewings for our June newsletter.  That changed while walking through the garden recently as I spied my first Dragonfly of the season.  With their brilliant colors andContinue reading “Dragonflies”

Pre-Emergent Herbicides in Your Garden

By Diane Sommers, Master Rosarian Of all the things I enjoy about gardening, pulling weeds is not one of them.  When I consider all the time I have spent over the years pulling weeds, I know there has to be a better way to manage weeds.  Some years I am more diligent than others and some yearsContinue reading “Pre-Emergent Herbicides in Your Garden”

Selecting Roses for Your Garden

By Diane Sommers, Master Rosarian At a recent morning Pilates class, soothing music was playing and our instructor suggested we think of spring flowers popping out of the earth.  We were experiencing one of the warmest winters in history, with February temperatures in the 60’s and 70’s.  Almost as an afterthought, perhaps knowing I was the roseContinue reading “Selecting Roses for Your Garden”

Exhibit Like A Winner!

by Lynda H. Fleming This is the third article about the fun and benefits of exhibiting your roses.  Below you will find some easy tips and examples that will enable any of you to “Exhibit Like A Winner”!   Disclaimers: I am not a Judge.  The opinions are mine, based on more than 25 years of exhibiting.  Winning Some!  Losing Many!!  HavingContinue reading “Exhibit Like A Winner!”

Sawfly Larvae

By Diane Sommers The skeletonizing of rose leaves is often an indication that Sawfly larvae, aka rose slugs, are present in the garden.  As damage begins, look at the underside of the leaf for small light green caterpillar-like insects.  Sawflies are part of the diverse order of Hymenoptera which includes ants, bees and wasps.  Sawflies are nonstinging waspsContinue reading “Sawfly Larvae”

Aphids

Between the Leaves – A Closer Look at Garden Bugs By Diane Sommers, Master Rosarian One of the first insects to appear on new rose growth in the spring is the aphid.  Aphids on our roses are generally green or red brown in color. These aphids are part of the Aphididae family which consists of overContinue reading “Aphids”

April Rose Doctor

Your bareroot roses have arrived, now what do I do? The past few years I have started my new roses in large pots with potting soil containing mycorrhiza. This gets the rose bush a start of a great root system. In September I plant them in their garden location to get established before winter setsContinue reading “April Rose Doctor”