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newbieroselover

OK to apply cornmeal now?

newbieroselover
19 years ago

Hello everyone, I've been actively following the forums for Roses, Antique Roses, and Compost and Mulch, and just found this one. I planted 13 own-root roses this summer, will add more next summer plus lots of other perennials, and don't like the idea of waging chemical warfare. I was fascinated to read about using cornmeal to suppress fungal disease. I noticed some blackspot appearing on my roses at the end of the summer. It's cold now, but the roses still have active growth and we have lots of warm days during the winter here in the NC mountains, which would allow fungi to grow, I presume? Would it be helpful for me to go ahead and sprinkle a cup of cornmeal around each bush? Any reason not to, this time of year? (I just surrounded each bush with three-quarters-done homemade compost, too and was careful not to mound it against the canes).

Thanks,

Janice

aka newbieroselover

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