The above are my roses...

Until this year they were on a chemical program - systemic pesticides like Acephate alternated with Di-Syston, chemical fungus cures for rampant black-spot and chemical fertilizers.

Last fall they got their first dose of compost (4" in the fall).

This year they have gotten the Organic Rose food from Rhodes here in DFW (rock Phosphate and organics) as well as Greensense 5-2-4 and lately a foliar mix of compost tea, molasses, cornmeal 'milk', fish and seaweed fertilizer. Three weeks ago I still had a real issue with blackspot although Neem oil was helping.

I have knocked off with the Neem oil to save the 'good bugs, mixed in 50 pounds of cornmeal (150 feet of rose beds) and have about 6" of nice rotted hardwood mulch.

Well, the cornmeal handled the blackspot like RIGHT NOW and the blooms this fall are the largest and most fragrant I have had. I turned the soil today while adding more cornmeal and literally each 10"x10" square had AT LEAST a dozen fat earthworms.

In addition, the already thick 'trunks' of my rose bushes have increased in size 30% this year (they are 6 years in this bed).

If that isn't ggod enough for ya to try it - the blooms are full of ladybugs (the yellow type) and little spiders and the Thrip problem (why i used di-syston - they used to suck the blooms dry in a day) is GONE.

So forget doing it because you don't want funny looking children or because you want to save the planet - if you care about nothing but gorgeous roses give this a shot. The picture above showing blooms has my big paw in it - look at the size of that bloom!

There are lots of good, sensible reasons for switching to an Organic rose program - forget them and focus for a moment on the pragmatic one - IT WORKS!

BEAUTIFUL! What a great advertisement for organic rose growing!
Thanks for sharing!
Kathe

Chuck,
Those roses are beautiful. I can't believe the size of the one next to your 'paw'. This is postive proof that organic is so much better then the
chemicals, and in only one year. I bet the rest of the flowers in your yard are as beautiful, and healthy, as the roses!!

Greg, the roses are kickin but there are lost tribes that anthropologists want to study in the cannas and in the basil patch of my herb garden.... Will save you a 5 gallon bucket of canna rhizomes like we talked about - they are doing the Kudzu deal on me!