Hello Dear Rose Friends,
As we revel in the glorious colours of autumn, our deciduous trees which were planted after the Black Saturday bushfire in 2009, are particularly beautiful this year.
Have you noticed how many roses actually have magnificent autumn colours in their leaves and big plump rose hips turn from green/yellow to orange/red. This is particularly evident in some old-fashioned species of roses and varieties like Rugosas.
If any modern shrubs, climbers or other roses have produced plump seed pods which we call ‘rose hips’, you might like to leave them to develop on the bush during autumn and then when they’re totally ripe in winter, use them to make your own home-made rose-hip-syrup.
You could also save the seeds and sow them in late winter to create your very own ‘new’ rose which you can name as you please … all exciting endeavours as part of your rose-growing adventure!
Why mulch gardens in the winter? Using a cover over the soil with mulch like pea/wheat straw, lucerne, (or another medium of your choice) is vitally important for keeping soil microorganisms alive all year but it is especially important when the soil gets cold in winter. Autumn is the time to ensure there’s a good mulch cover whilst the soil is still warm!
The tiny creatures that we see in our gardens when we get down close to the soil are part of the balance needed to have healthy roses and plants.
All products used and recommended by Silkies Rose Farm as part of our organic rose management program will help these critters thrive and breed prolifically under a cover of mulch.
Remember too, worms breed from April to October when the soil is moist and they have a bounty of food - mulch/fungus/bacteria to thrive.
Seaweed solution which has over 32 minerals will provide nutrition for microorganisms, tiny critters and earthworms so pour it liberally around your garden at least once a month.
I highly recommend you read: “The Call of The Reed Warbler” by Charles Massy for the most interesting clarification of regeneration of our environment.
Giggle of the day:
Q. What do you call a fly with no wings?
A. A walk.
HAS THIS HAPPENED TO YOUR ECO-SEAWEED?
"Hi, Apologies for troubling you on a weekend however my eco seaweed powder I bought from you has solidified (my fault, I did not close the lid properly