Hello Dear Rose Friends,
Thank you so much for your lovely messages for my birthday – we had a fabulous time of celebration with family and friends and your messages topped it all off.
This saying by Dame Judi Dench was sent along with one birthday message …
'Elderly' is the rudest word in my dictionary, and 'Old' is another one too.
I don't allow that in my house, and being called 'Vintage'!
I don't want any of these old words.
I like 'Enthusiastic'!
We’re finally experiencing some nice hot weather which roses absolutely love and need! When the heat ramps up, don’t forget to turn the tap on and deep-soak your garden to deliver at least 20 litres per rose per week.
Also, if you haven’t fertilised recently, be sure to afford your roses another round of fertiliser – do it today/tomorrow because we expect another very wet day this Saturday. If you fertilize with any type of organic fertilizer/manure before or during the rain, there’s no need to water it in. Make the weather work for you!!!
REMINDER OF LODGEMENT DATES FOR CHRISTMAS …
yes, Christmas is just around the corner so mark these dates on your calendar if you’re thinking about gifting our magnificent roses for Christmas this year …
We are recommending lodgement by the following dates for delivery within most states in Australia by Christmas (*excludes items sent to and from Perth and Darwin):
- Parcel Post: Tuesday 19 December
- Express Post: Thursday 21 December
TYPICAL EMAIL EXCHANGE ABOUT PLANTING ROSES AT THIS TIME OF YEAR …
Hello, A question: can the Nahema be grown in a large pot (65cm deep, 50cm in diameter), or does it have to go in the ground? I am hoping to train it up a down-pipe. Also, as it is my first rose (in Australia): will it come with care instructions? Thanks for your help!
Jytte
MY RESPONSE: It will be perfect for you! Just remember that plants in pots require considerably more attention than those in the soil! Enjoy this beauty! Cheers - Gra
Thank you for your quick response. I have now ordered the rose and have decided to plant it directly in the ground (not a pot). Please tell me: how should I prepare the planting location for the rose to start growing happily? Thank you!
MY RESPONSE: You dig a hole approx. 50cm x 50cm and break up the wall which you do with a garden fork rather than a shovel ... not a nice, neat, hole ... very rough so that roots can easily find their way through ... add some bagged compost or Black Marvel (brand) and blend with existing soil - soak the hole from when you do this until the rose arrives. Then wet with seaweed solution and once you've soaked the pot, plant and then saturate the soil again ... DO NOT WATER EVERY DAY! Let the rose settle - add mulch and water deeply again in around a week and then monitor water requirements accordingly. Cheers and thank you
I would like to thank you for your advice: I’ve done everything as you recommended, and our new rose seems to be doing just fine - except for the “no watering rule”: it’s been pouring down with rain since day 2… All the best, Jytte
MY RESPONSE … Mother Nature rules but she’s sure to keep your rose well and happily flowering in your garden! Obviously, if the rain continues and you’re concerned the rose is sitting in a puddle of water, lift it back into a pot but if the drainage is good, leave it there and enjoy the flowers and fragrance soon … Gra
THIS WEEKS SPECIAL
Since Dame Judi Dench and I share the same sentiment about age, I am pleased to offer the magnificent rose named in her honour as part of this weeks special.
Purchase Dame Judi Dench and take another glorious David Austin Rose, Roald Dahl at half price and plant these beauties together (or, perhaps because it’s Christmas, use one as a gift and keep one for your garden!)
Dame Judi Dench and Roald Dahl $63.75 plus pack/post to your door.
A giggle for you:
Q: Did you hear about the engineer who liked gardening?
A: He was developing latest cutting hedge technology.
After a hugely busy time, we’re madly trimming, weeding, fertilizing and mulching our gardens so that we enjoy weeks and weeks of glorious rose blooms in our gardens … we hope you’re doing the same! Cheers …