Hello Dear Rose Friends,
We are continuing to enjoy mild conditions here at Clonbinane – just as well really, because we’ve started processing this seasons roses which means you’ll possibly be receiving bare-rooted roses any time soon.
It’s such a pleasure to work outdoors in this weather when there’s hardly a breeze and the sun is shining … oh, and by the way, the quality of our roses is extraordinary after a few seasons of good rain, moderate heat and plenty of sunshine!
No, it’s not really the right time to prune your roses and if you live close, you should definitely hold-off until you’ve attended one of our demonstrations:
Our hosts, Ken and TR at Seasonal Concepts will spoil us with delicious morning or afternoon tea and then we’ll enjoy demonstrating pruning all the different types of roses which Master Florist, Ken, grows for field-grown cut flowers – there are more than a thousand roses of all varieties including David Austins, Hybrid Teas, Modern Shrubs, Climbers and Miniatures too.
If the weather isn’t kind on the day, you’ll stay dry because we can demonstrate close to the magnificent ‘shed’ which houses curated antiques and old wares but do come prepared with winter footwear so you can get up-close-and-personal with the roses and us as we demonstrate all methods of pruning – Diana will have Pellenc pruners and mechanical hedger, Ken and I will use Lowe secateurs, loppers and saws.
You can wander through the extensive flower garden to get ideas for which trees, shrubs and other plants to grow in your garden for use in your home arrangements.
HAVE A GIGGLE
Q: What would you get if you crossed a sheep and a goat?
A: An animal that can eat tin cans and poops steel wool.
If your roses look daggy, go out and trim all the spent blooms as though you were cutting them for a vase in your home … leave them to get on with their ‘winter dormancy’ when they’ll lose all their foliage and get ready for you to prune late June or July depending on the climate in your zone.
Do book your place at the first pruning demonstrations on 30th June …
PREPARING SOIL FOR PLANTING NEW ROSES ...
The sooner you prepare your garden for new bare-rooted roses to be planted this winter, the better the roses will perform during their lifetime! This is an extract from Diana’s book, ALL ABOUT ROSES …
“The most successful and rewarding rose gardens are those where the soil was well prepared prior to planting and autumn is the ideal season to prepare your new garden beds for winter planting of bare-rooted roses.
Remove the grass/weeds to a depth of about 5–10cm (2–4in). This ‘turf’ can be laid in another area to create a lawn or place it on the compost heap upside down where it will break down and provide compost for another garden bed once the weeds are ‘cooked’.
Do not dig the cleared area because it is backbreaking work and there is no need for you to do it. There is an army of workers waiting underground for you to proceed to the next step of creating this new rose bed and they will happily do all the necessary digging and aerating which is essential to create a well-drained site suitable for bare-rooted roses. Apply gypsum and liquid seaweed over the area then pile on any combination of animal manures or whatever composted material is available.
Take some litter from under a range of shrubs and trees in other areas of your garden and spread them over the compost. This will supply mycorrhiza (fungi) from your own garden environment and is an integral component in the soil life when preparing a new garden bed. Lightly mulch with lucerne or pea straw and water weekly if there is no rain.
Sprinkle rock dust and liquid sea minerals to ensure a balanced range of earth and sea minerals are incorporated into the soil. Liquid seaweed applied weekly will act as a soil conditioner as well as feed the worms, your army of workers without whom your garden will not flourish at all. They will rapidly come to the surface and begin aerating the soil for you. As they chew their way through all the manure, straw, leaf litter and goodness you’ve been adding to the site, they will generously add their castings to the soil. If the pile of manure you have applied rots down to become humus and the bed needs to be raised, keep adding more manure and straw layers up to four weeks prior to planting. When you are ready to plant the roses, the only area to dig will be at the planting hole. By doing this, you reduce weed activation because you are not disturbing the soil structure of the entire garden bed.”
HAVE A GIGGLE
Q: Why don't Giraffes make good pets?
A: They're too high maintenance.
SPECIAL OFFER THIS WEEK ...
When you order ANY FOUR BARE ROOTED ROSES, we’ll pack a FREE PAIR OF GLOVES into your parcel (RRP $14.50). We’ve used and recommended these fabulous gloves for many years.
They come in four sizes: 7 – 8 – 9 and 10 so please indicate your size in the comments section of your order. The gloves are machine washable so they remain fresh and offer great protection when working around roses!
Simply add 4 or more Bare Rooted Roses to your cart and your free pair of gloves will be added automatically!
Enjoy the last week of autumn in your garden … best wishes from us all …