| We have a purplish-pink Crepe Myrtle on the side of our sunroom and wondering what to give it to make it look fuller and bushier as we have had it from several years now. It is about 4 ft tall. We just plant 2 hybrid teacup rose bushes on other side of sunroom which gets morning sun any suggestions on what to put on them when the beetles start attacking them. |
| You can lightly prune your crape myrtle after it has finished blooming. Pruning will encourage new growth towards the inside of the plant and new outward growth, as well. As for your roses, most of the foliage and flowers can be protected by spraying or dusting with insecticides. But insecticides will not fully protect roses, because they unfold too fast and are especially attractive to beetles. When beetles are most abundant on roses, nip off the buds and spray the bushes to protect the leaves. When the beetles become scarce, let the bushes bloom again. Begin treatment as soon as beetles appear, before damage is done. Please remember that many dusts or sprays are highly toxic to honeybees. If application of these materials to plants is necessary during the bloom period, either remove the flowers so bees won't be attracted to the area, or do not apply during hours when bees are visiting the flowers. |
