Hello Dear Rose Friends,
We cannot remember an autumn quite like this … day after day of super-frosty mornings of minus 3, still, with hardly a breath of wind and warm sunshine all day… amazing.
It’s all about to change with some welcome rain in the forecast but, of course, it’s the end of our magnificent rose blooms for this season.
Here’s frozen La Sevillana
... any half-good-looking rose is picked and vased because it will be months before we enjoy the fragrance of roses on our kitchen bench. So quickly we move from one season to the next because my early-flowering jonquils are already up and flowering, Diana has a border of friesias planted which are showing foliage and I planted another huge clump of daffodils and tulips along the driveway this past weekend.
GROWING ROSES IN CONTAINERS ...
the constant question is “… can I plant this rose in a pot?” and we always say: “Yes, of course, but are you prepared to offer it the TLC which it requires and deserves?” With smaller outdoor areas in most residential areas, there’s no option – just like in Matthew’s garden –
If you’ve got garden area available, then we most highly recommend you plant roses directly into the soil – way less effort is required to have them flowering beautifully and if you miss watering, fertilizing, trimming; if it’s too hot or too cold or too wet or dry, they’ll be fine!
Here are a few things to consider if it’s not possible to plant directly into a garden bed:
- Use only high-quality potting mix which is guaranteed to have added nutrients and water-saving properties;
- Buy large pots or containers rather than lots of small pots to ensure greater water and fertilizer retention;
- Re-pot roses every couple of years – ideally during winter so that you can give the plant and roots a really good prune;
- Water at least once a fortnight with seaweed solution, yes, add worm juice and any other goodies; granular fertilizer at least once a month due to leaching in pots;
- Potted roses are like pets – you can’t leave them unattended when you go away!
There are many other considerations when planting your roses into pots but it can be a very rewarding experience if you’re prepared to spend time caring for them.
Every single variety and type of rose will grow in a pot, however, its growth might be stunted by the size of the pot and if you don’t give the rose everything it deserves whilst in a pot, you and the rose might not be too happy!
Remember this too … every rose can be dug up AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR! With good attention to detail, if you need to remove a rose from a garden bed for whatever reason, you can do it at any time. So, if you live in a rental property, put some roses in your garden, enjoy them and learn how easy they are to care for. Then, when it’s time to move on, dig them up and take them with you!
We’ll be digging up a rose during PRUNING DEMONSTRATIONS on SUNDAY, 30th JUNE which, by the way, are already well booked so don’t dally with saving your space for this great event. We’ve got folks driving from Adelaide and Bellingen, NSW – all very exciting!
If, in order to visit our region, you need assistance with information about accommodation, etc. don’t hesitate to be in touch with us – yesterday as we were having lunch at one of our favourite destinations in Seymour, we saw people hesitate … once we told them the coffee and food was good, they happily came and sat at a table then thanked us on the way out!
Last week when I did a similar thing, the bloke turned to me and said: “Does your daughter work here?” … funny!
HAVE A GIGGLE
Q: What goes Zubb Zubb when it travels?
A: A bee flying backwards of course!.
FACTS ABOUT LADYBIRDS ...
Ladybirds are good; they love to eat aphids, mites and scale insects which destroy a lot of common garden plants and mess with our lovely roses. We should do everything possible to encourage ladybirds to stay in our yards!
Ladybirds can eat 20-25 aphids a day whilst their larvae can consume over 200 aphids a day.
If you set about planting herbs and early spring-flowering annuals as soon as possible according to your climate, the ladybirds will be there and working in your garden right on time for the first aphids in spring – don’t forget to put water bowls out and sprinkle water around because ladybirds need to drink frequently.
HAVE ANOTHER GIGGLE ..
Q. What do you call a rose with a large thorn?
A. A Rose-nocerous
SPECIAL OFFER THIS WEEK - BUY POTTED AT BARE-ROOTED PRICE ...
This offer won’t suit every reader but I hope there’s somebody who lives close and would love to plant a hedge-row of this magnificent hybrid-rugosa rose RUGELDA – there are only 15 pots and they really should go to one destination but we will split this if necessary.
PICK UP ONLY! $29.95 EACH!
Be the first to order by EMAIL ONLY – PICK UP ONLY – info@rosesalesonline.com.au
When we chat next week, it will be winter … stay happy and warm in your garden …