Day #122 in A Year of Thanks:
I’m thankful for neem oil.

I’m sad I lost two out of a dozen rose bushes after the brutal temperatures this past January, but I still have ten that are truly Pennsylvania hardy. It makes me so happy they’re growing quite thick with so many luscious leaves, though Grams and I just saw our first ever infestation of aphids on my Mr. Lincoln rose. So far, they were only on three stems, but I immediately took care of it with some neem oil, which is phenomenal for removing aphids. Afterwards, I sprayed the other nine hybrid tea roses to prevent any further spread of the aphid infestation. Additionally, neem oil is supposed to be quite effective against whiteflies, mealybugs, spider mites, caterpillars, leafhoppers, scale, and Japanese beetles. I’m hoping it also helps to deter the invasive spotted lantern fly species, but they haven’t hatched from their egg sacks yet, so we shall see. My fingers are crossed because they’re a nuisance to our maple trees, crops, and every sweet-scented plant (especially my roses). Here’s to hoping for the best as I wait for my beautiful budding roses to bloom!

Day 121 | Day 122 | Day 123
Year of Thanks