In love with 'The Prince'. The temperatures are going down
in the evening and early morning. However, days are still for the most part in the low 90's. Mine are own root.

I placed a spring order for 4 Munstead Wood.

The color has been deepening/darker.
I think 'The Prince' might get taller here than in other gardens.

Gorgeous, mauvegirl! That color looks great with your brick.

Any opinions on the use of Neem oil in the garden?
I sprayed a light mist.

Mrs B R Cant has a few buds....made me smile!

Is it ok to cut a few canes of Zephirine right now?
This is the fassssssstest growing rose.

Thank you ogrose.

You sprayed neem oil in your TX garden now?

Why?

I sprayed for blackspot & insects chewing edges of leaves.
That is why I am asking for feedback & experiences.
Do you prefer insecticidal soap?

I thought it had to be cool to use Neem oil (or any oil)

Good thing, I lightly sprayed in the evening.
Nursery recommended & cautioned it could burn foliage in the
heat.

That is why I asked for experiences, because I do not know.
What insecticide would you recommend?

If I felt the need to use Neem oil when temperatures reach 85 or higher during the day, I'd wait to spray in the early evening (before sunset but after temperatures drop below 85), leave it on overnight, and then rinse thoroughly with hose-water in the morning before the heat kicks in again. I'm thinking that letting it soak in overnight will allow it to do its work, and rinsing it off in the morning will keep it from frying the leaves.

I used neem oil as the "horticultural oil" in a Cornell mixture a couple of times, but stopped by June when the heat kicked in. Being so busy putting the yard together, I ended up letting blackspot run its course, which means I'll be investigating doing some sort of dormant-spray in Spring before things leaf out -- sulfur, maybe? Just enough to knock it back. I didn't even see any blackspot on any until it came in on a couple of roses -- then it spread. Last year, the six roses-in-pots I had at the time didn't show any blackspot at all until September here.

I'll go back to doing the modified Cornell mix with neem oil again, if only because I noticed it kept the rose slugs at bay. And I'll be doing it in the early evening and rinsing it off in the early morning. I haven't tried this approach yet, but it's something I think might work when the heat kicks in.

:-)

~Christopher

Another good reason to not spray Neem during the day is that it can kill bees.

Aquaeyes, I did use the water hose early the next morning.
Good information!

I have many dragonflies hovering over my garden this week.
I saw one on top of the obelisk.