If you have roses in your garden, they’re probably blooming right now. If not, it could be because your rose plant is
plagued with:
I’ve had them all. About 8 years ago, I found a tip, and I’ve used it every year, and it always works. I have disease free roses with this one, simple act:
I plant chives around the rose.
No chemicals. No “timed” applications. Just chives.
Chives are companion plants to roses. I think it’s the oniony-scent of the chives that deters the roses from becoming attacked. Companion planting is a very easy way to garden — it can makes gardening more fun — and a higher rate of success. There’s a great book that explains it all, Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting
gosh, susie, thanks so much. my hubby plants rose bushes, and he’s supposed to feed and spray them, but when he gets busy, they tend to get neglected. i’ll invest in some chives very soon!
Thanks for the tips. I am trying my hand at getting a green thumb this summer, and I know next-to-nothing about it.
What a great tip! Chives with roses. I’ll be. I’ve leaned to growing heirloom roses because they are more fuss-free.
Hi Susie,
What a nice post today…and not just because you mentioned my blog 🙂 (thank you!)…we have about eight rose bushes and I think I will give our chive tip a try. So, ignorance shining through here…did you root chives and then plant them? How much chives are we talking about here? Carrots Love Tomatoes sounds like a great book! Thanks for the recommendation. Motherpie – I have also read that heirlooms (plants and vegetables) are the way to go!
Gift of Green — just pick up chives already planted at the garden store — very hard to grow from seed. They do multiply rapidly, so after one year, you’ll be able to divide them. One per rose plant should do it. But if it’s a big bush, plant two chives. And, you’re welcome!
PERFECT! This is just what I needed. I’ve been looking at my sad roses and thinking I had to get out the pesticide. I’ll go buy chives like crazy this weekend and see if it helps. Thank you!
I am going to get some chives today!
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