Q.
My vining roses have bright yellow and wimpy leaves. Am I over watering? Under
watering? I have fertilized, added sulfur and iron too.
My vining roses have bright yellow and wimpy leaves. Am I over watering? Under
watering? I have fertilized, added sulfur and iron too.
 |
| Readers rose vine |
A.
This subject of whether a plant is over watered or underwatered is difficult to
answer remotely. From your description, it sounds possible you are overwatering
but probably not under watering.
This subject of whether a plant is over watered or underwatered is difficult to
answer remotely. From your description, it sounds possible you are overwatering
but probably not under watering.
Why don’t I think you are under
watering? If you are under watering I would expect to see more leaf scorch and
dieback on the leaves. Yellowing of the leaves of any kind is called “chlorosis”
and can come from a number of sources including overwatering.
watering? If you are under watering I would expect to see more leaf scorch and
dieback on the leaves. Yellowing of the leaves of any kind is called “chlorosis”
and can come from a number of sources including overwatering.
When yellowing or chlorosis is due to a
lack of available iron then we will call it iron chlorosis. Chlorosis or
yellowing due to a lack of available iron usually makes the leaves yellow with green
veins. When iron is severely lacking, the leaf may be entirely yellow and
scorched, but these are extreme cases.
lack of available iron then we will call it iron chlorosis. Chlorosis or
yellowing due to a lack of available iron usually makes the leaves yellow with green
veins. When iron is severely lacking, the leaf may be entirely yellow and
scorched, but these are extreme cases.
.JPG) |
| Typical iron chlorosis with green veins on peach |
Surround your roses with wood mulch, not
rock mulch. If these plants have rock mulch surrounding them, rake it back a
couple of feet and apply a couple of inches of compost first followed by some
wood mulch. In this particular case do not use decorative bark mulch until the
plants begin to recover. Decorative bark looks nice but it doesn’t do much for
the soil.
Apply an iron fertilizer in the form of an
iron chelate before you cover the soil with mulch. The chelate should be in the
form of EDDHA which should be listed in the ingredients. The type of iron you
add is very important. Mix the iron chelate in a bucket of water and pour it
all over the soil above the roots or sprinkle it on dry and water it in. Don’t
leave it on the surface because it is sensitive to sunlight.
iron chelate before you cover the soil with mulch. The chelate should be in the
form of EDDHA which should be listed in the ingredients. The type of iron you
add is very important. Mix the iron chelate in a bucket of water and pour it
all over the soil above the roots or sprinkle it on dry and water it in. Don’t
leave it on the surface because it is sensitive to sunlight.
.JPG) |
| Iron chelate with EDDHA on the label |
Also, fertilize with a rose fertilizer
or a fertilizer that has been formulated for flowering trees or shrubs. Avoid
watering daily and try to give your woody plants a couple of days rest from any
additional water before you irrigate again. Having wood mulch on the surface
will help.
or a fertilizer that has been formulated for flowering trees or shrubs. Avoid
watering daily and try to give your woody plants a couple of days rest from any
additional water before you irrigate again. Having wood mulch on the surface
will help.
 |
| Specialty fertilizer formulated for roses |
Always keep wood mulch a few inches away
from the trunk of any plant to prevent stem diseases such as collar rot from
occurring.
from the trunk of any plant to prevent stem diseases such as collar rot from
occurring.