Ludwig’s rose corner
Visit ludwigsroses.co.za and send queries to gardens@homemag.co.za. Q: To use water wisely, I’d like to install drip irrigation in my bed of ‘Burning Sky’ and ‘Bewitched’ hybrid tea roses. Is this a good idea?
Drip irrigation is not ideal for roses in gardens for several reasons. During a drought, the roots develop close to the dripper but with prolonged rain, new roots will develop and stretch into previously dry soil only to shrivel once the rainy period has ended. This can be overcome by having two or three emitters per rose bush. Spacing depends on the type of soil. In soil with a good clay content, the water will move sideways and the irrigated area will be much larger. In sandy soil, more drippers need to be installed.
Drippers can get blocked and with a lot of drippers it becomes a bothersome job to check. You will only notice a problem when the rose is almost dead or has died from lack of water.
It’s also not recommended to apply granular fertiliser unless there’s been a rainy spell or you are prepared to water by hand a few times after fertilising.
Q: Can I irrigate my roses with grey water from the shower, bath and washing machine?
Yes you can as roses seem to thrive on grey water. However, it is a good idea to irrigate with municipal water or harvested rainwater every now and then to wash away any residues from the detergents. I also recommend changing to biodegradable, environmentally-friendly products.
What to do…
Pull off the obviously damaged, badly infected leaves. Spray the underside of the leaves with an effective miticide such as Milbeknock, making sure that the foliage is well drenched. You must repeat the spraying five days later to kill any new mites.