"Daniel Hanna" wrote in message
home.com.au...
In Kirra wrote:
It is only used after
pruning because it will damage any fresh growth (or any leaves) on the
roses.

Actually, Kirra, it can be used any time of the year. Even the Yates
product instructions say that (I've got a bottle myself!). You just use
it at 10 ml per litre of spray instead of 20 ml/L.

I've used it on powdery mildew mid season, to great effect. No foliage
burning problems, but it did make the foliage smell awful. The side
benefit of this was that a rogue possum decided that my roses were now a
bit too spicy for its palate. Awww.

Hmm ... I must admit that I haven't bought a bottle of it yet. I was just
going by things I had read about it but they were obviously talking about
dormant concentration. It's good to know that I will be able to use it at
other times as well.

Do you think grasshoppers might also decide that it is too spicy? I had a
number of them last year who not only liked to munch the leave to get them
to look like lace and eat the blooms but who also decided that eating
through the canes was quite scrumptious. I had to cut back three big
basils/laterals on my climbing peace because of those critters eating 3/4 of
the way through canes.

Kirra
Brisbane, Australia
zone 10