 Unfortunately, harmful insects and plant diseases will survive during our relatively mild winters. As a result, during the past few years we have seen massive numbers of aphids, especially on roses and plum leaves early in the year.
In addition to plum and rose aphids, wooly aphids, rose slugs, cucumber beetles and thrips overwinter in great numbers. Most of these insects overwinter by laying eggs in cracks, crevices and in plant bark. Insect eggs can withstand temperatures much lower than the mature insects, and then as the weather warms in spring, the insects hatch and resume their life cycle.
Plant diseases such as rust, mildew, black spot, bacterial canker, brown rot and shot hole are completely resistant to low temperatures and unless cleaned up will pass undiminished from one season to the next.
One of the ways to reduce the amount of insects and disease in our home orchards and gardens is by spraying plants with a dormant spray during December, January or February. Plants such as roses and deciduous fruit trees are dormant at this time, hence the term dormant spray. Because the plants are dormant, sprays used at this time of year are twice as strong as can be used when the plants are in active growth.
One of the oldest dormant sprays is Bordeaux mixture, developed about 1878. This mixture of copper sulfate and hydrated lime was originally sprayed on grapes as a poisonous-looking mixture to prevent stealing; it was accidentally discovered to prevent downy mildew from infecting the plants. Bordeaux mixture is very difficult for the home gardener to produce, is very unsightly and can be toxic to some plants. Consequently, equally effective and more easily prepared dormant sprays are now available.
For gardeners who wish to use Bordeaux, Calcium Polysulfide (sold as Polysul Dormant Spray) is available. It smells bad and can not be used on apricot trees but is as effective as the old Bordeaux mixture for controlling fungus diseases. More commonly, fixed copper solutions such as Micro-cop or Liqui-cop are being used to control fungus diseases. Micro-cop contains 90% Copper sulfate and is the only one strong enough to control peach leaf curl. Liqui-cop has 31% copper and can be used on all the other plants. Sulfur products must not be used on apricot trees.
In addition to these fungicides, a horticultural oil (we recommend Master Nursery Year Round Spray Oil) must be added to help control overwintering insects. The two can be mixed together and sprayed on the dormant plants. A slightly coarse spray should be used and the plants should be sprayed until dripping. Plants with thick bark must be especially thoroughly sprayed to reach hidden insect eggs and fungus spores.
Infected leaves and fruit must be gathered from the ground and stripped from the plants and disposed of, not composted. This total procedure will not guarantee that your plants will go through the entire season without disease or insects since they can blow in from neighbors who were not as careful as you. It will ensure that your plants will get off to as clean a start a possible.
Finally: horticultural oil for the insects, copper for the fungus and bacteria.
Below are links to our Care Guides on:
Dormant Spray Schedule for Fruits and Vines
http://www.wegmansnursery.com/services.asp?page_id=106
Fruit Tree and Vine Care Calendar
http://www.wegmansnursery.com/services.asp?page_id=135
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Growing Conditions 
Put some color in your life--primroses are in bloom. The primrose is an unusually vivid spring blooming perennial flower. Unlike the subtle pastels associated with spring, primroses shout out in bold yellows, reds, pinks and blues. The flower stalks of primroses shoot up from low, ground-hugging rosettes of thick green leaves, staying in bloom for weeks. Plant in partial shade; they can tolerate sun if kept cool and moist. 
Micro-cop--$19.99
