Do It Once, Do It Right
How brilliant that despite very poor growing conditions after the roses were budded last season, we are now digging such magnificent bare-rooted rose plants to supply this winter …
… Since we started posting bare-rooted roses on Monday this week, we know that the size and weight exceeds what you paid in postage but hey, we’re thrilled to be sending out such quality plants which are sure to thrive in your garden for years to come!
We trust you’ll tend the rose/s immediately on arrival – we pack them super-well for any possible delay in transit but please, unpack them and soak in the supplied Eco-seaweed as soon as possible.
Bare-rooted roses are perfectly OK sitting in Eco-seaweed solution for a few days – better than sitting in a potentially warm location in a box with their roots wrapped in damp newspaper!
The sooner you get the roses planted in their new home, the better … here is an extract from Diana’s very informative book – ALL ABOUT ROSES.
Planting bare-rooted roses in winter
You’ve poured over rose catalogues and changed your mind a million times, but finally selected the varieties to be planted in your new garden. The rose bed has looked empty for weeks while waiting for this grand moment.
The new roses should still be packaged, or they might already have been soaking in a weak liquid seaweed solution for a few hours. The roots should NEVER dry out during this critical time – leave the roses soaking in buckets or troughs throughout the planting process.
Using a garden fork (so you don’t slice though worms who’ve been aerating and casting into the soil), dig a rough-walled hole at least 50x50cm to adequately accommodate and spread out the rose roots. Remove soil from the planting hole and poke holes in the base and walls to enable roots to immediately start penetrating deeply into the soil.
DO NOT ADD FERTILISER OR (fresh) ANIMAL MANURE. Remove the rose from the packaging and dip in seaweed solution. Prune off any broken roots and give the rose stems a trim to outward facing buds. Create a mound of soil in the hole and spread the rose roots down over the mound and start backfilling the soil, making sure you keep the crown above the soil.
With your foot, firmly press the soil around the neck of the rose to create a well, water thoroughly to create a slurry of mud to expel any air around the roots. Add light soil or bagged compost to fill the well so the crown is just above the existing soil level, which allows space for a light application of milled lucerne mulch or pea straw.
Soak the entire area thoroughly with no less than 10 litres of water to which liquid seaweed has been added. Unless it rains, the new rose will require at least 10 litres of water weekly.
If there is heavy rain and you notice the rose is sitting in a puddle of water constantly, lift it out of the ground and place it in a pot until the drainage problem is rectified before replanting. Roses hate wet feet and bare-rooted roses will perish very quickly if left in soggy ground.
If you’re new to rose growing, treat yourself to a copy of All About Roses. The revised edition is now available with updated information and photos to ensure you grow magnificent roses in your garden with confidence under the guidance of Diana’s motto –
Do it once, do it right!
A giggle for you …
Q: What do you get if a dinosaur kicks you in the bottom? A.
A: mega-sore-ass!
Interesting Story
"Dear Diana - I do have a question about Nahema but long story short ...
About this time last year I received a rose bundle from you that pretty much arrived at my new address with the moving van. As you know, last year was wetter than most years, so these roses sat in their bags at the front door for nearly four weeks. One day I decided it was do or die, so out I went to plant my roses only to find I had very wet, very rocky, heavy clay soil. Undeterred I pruned them, dug my holes and improved the soil as best I could. Three hours later I began planting by physically moulding the clay around the roots and pushing the clay into the hole (no friable soil here) and watered in well. That was it, they didn't get watered again for a couple of months. Come Spring, to my absolute delight, I had new shoots and eventually flowers to boot.
So thank you, as they have been the healthiest plants, a metre plus in height and are only finishing flowering now with the onset of winter. Finally, my question. My Nahema is about 1.5m and do I prune it the same as the other roses?
Many thanks - Vicki"
To which Diana responded:
Hey Vicki … what a story! One question … were the roses in pots or were they bare-rooted? I can only imagine they survived that month without attention because they were in pots?
Meantime, if you like the growth on Nahema, let it be – just trim all dead heads and neaten the branches with a trim … it’s a climber you know? Cheers …
Then Vicki:
"Thanks for your reply Diana, I'll leave Nahema be. The roses, I hate to admit it, but they were bare rooted. Cheers - Vicki" So, when you purchase roses from Silkies Rose Farm / Rosesalesonline, you can be absolutely confident that they’re quality and extremely well packaged to endure the most extreme handling!
A giggle for you …
Q: What is the best room in the house to hide from ghosts?
A. The living room.
As promised last week, just in time for you to get stuck into pruning we’ll post our amazing
Lowe 5 Secateurs and sharpener Promo $ 99.50 (includes shipping)
... so you can enjoy pruning even thick branches with ease!
This is a testimonial from Ruth …
"Hello, The secateurs and sharpener arrived today. Thank you. I’ve already road-tested the secateurs, best pair I’ve ever owned. I’ve hidden these from my husband. Regards, Ruth"
Have a great week in your (probably) wet garden! Love from Gra, Diana, Mooi and the happy team at Silkies Rose Farm.