Nursery stock advice line 01379 741999


4Rust Check Althaea, Campanula, Fuchsia, Heuchera, Iris and others and apply Systhane 20EW or Topas preventatively. Amistar (EAMU 2009-0443), Bumper 250EC (EAMU 2009-0707) or Signum (EAMU 2012-2141) will provide curative control.


4Scab Use local weather forecasts and refer to Mills or Smith Period Tables as a guide to scab infection risks. Vulnerable crops include Chaenomeles, Crataegus, Malus, Pyracantha, Pyrus and Sorbus. Protect using Scala, Systhane 20EW or Topas or products containing captan or mancozeb (EAMUs may apply).


4Thielaviopsis (black root rot) Look for patchy black damage on roots using a hand lens. Affected plants can also show signs of wilting and leaf yellowing. Drench with Cercobin WG (EAMUs required), Octave or Switch for control. Prevent infections by applying root active products such as Prestop (EAMU 2012- 0564), Trianum P or Serenade ASO (EAMUs required).


4Trees Add the second top dressing of nitrogen to tree crops according to your fertiliser programme. Don’t exceed 50kg/ha of N (150kg/ha ammonium nitrate).


4Western flower thrip Control scratching or flecking on leaves and flowers with Conserve, Dynamec or Pyrethrum 5EC. Amblyseius cucumeris will control adults and nymphs; Atheta coriaria, Macrocheles robustulusand Met52 (EAMUs required) applied to the compost will control pupae.


…for the garden centre


Routinely check your saleable plants for pests and diseases, especially aphids and Botrytis. Control adult pests before they lay eggs – this will reduce the risk of repeated populations through the summer months. Check dry areas (near glasshouse doors, under vents, at the end of display beds) for powdery mildew infections and spider mite activity – both of which can cause problems in warm, dry conditions. Spider mites are difficult to see with the naked eye so you may need a hand lens. Damage shows as foliage bronzing and leaf speckling.


Time to promote Fruit and Vegetable Disease Control or Plant Rescue Fungus Control Concentrate Use to treat scab on fruit such as apples. Apply after periods of wet or damp weather. Check the label for the latest times of application and harvest intervals. Top dressing Revitalise established plants in containers by top dressing the pot using a fertiliser such as Floranid Permanent (1g per litre compost).


Pass it on l Advise customers to check their fruit crops for powdery mildew


(gooseberries and strawberries) and sawflies (plums) plus winter moths, aphids, caterpillars and spider mites. If you recommend fungicides, ensure people are aware of any harvest intervals and the latest time of applications listed on the labels.


l For customers wanting to replace shrubs and trees, find out if the previous plant was from the Rosaceae family. Planting another specimen in the same place from this family will inhibit its growth.


l Keep plant displays looking fresh by removing old and diseased plants. Dispose of dead plants and dying plant material quickly to avoid spreading disease.


or container. There are also miniature roses you can grow on a sunny windowsill. Breeding has produced myriad flower shapes – depending on your preference, there are tightly curled rosettes, globes, fluted hybrid teas or simple dog-roses – and colours from creams, whites and pastels to intense primary reds and yellows. Some roses are also beautifully perfumed; after flowering, some will go on to produce handsome hips. When planting roses, if your soil is heavy you need to


F


boost drainage by digging in organic matter and grit. To improve moisture retention on light soils, dig in lots of organic matter. You will also need to water well in dry spells. The ideal soil pH is about 6.5, which is slightly acid; the perfect spot is sunny and sheltered. If you are replacing old roses with new, to avoid replant sickness use fresh soil and compost in the planting hole. Bare root roses should be planted over the winter


months when the plant is dormant. Container-grown roses can be planted at any time, providing the soil is not frozen or waterlogged. Heel in the roots well to prevent wind rock, then cover over the root area with a thick layer of well-rotted garden compost or farmyard manure. Regular feeding with a proprietary rose feed helps maintain vigour and improves resistance to pests and diseases. Dead head regularly and follow the correct pruning regime for the type of rose.


Companion plants


Underplant with spring bulbs, low-growing hardy geraniums, lavenders, santolinas, catmint or cosmos.


Recommended If customers are new to growing roses, steer them towards ones that have been given the Award of Garden Merit.


_Plant of the Month POS materials are available from HTA partners Hortipak and Floramedia. For details please


visit www.the-hta.org.uk/plantofthemonth2013 HTA news I May 2013 I www.the-hta.org.uk 25


3 3


Rose


Seasonal promotion Plant of the month June


Introducing the season’s best and most widely available plants to your customers


Huge choice of flower colours and shapes Often fragrant


rom hybrid teas to floribundas and shrub roses, standards, climbers and ramblers, there is a rose for every situation, be it a hedge, groundcover, border


Use plant protection products safely. Always read the label and product information before use. HTA/Dove Associates shall, in no event, be liable for the loss of or damage to any crops or biological control agents caused by the use of products mentioned


JOHN WOODS


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