4.8.2016 …
It’s another whole new month and we start to see new foliage emerging on our roses – be sure to protect all that development with the implementation of the organic rose management program which you should continue at least monthly to ensure prolific healthy foliage which in turn will offer magnificent blooms soon!
IN THE NURSERY …
Most of you will now have your roses planted – there was a bit of doubt about what Graham mentioned last week – “prune 1/3 of the new bushes back” … yes, DO IT as this will promote creation of WATER SHOOTS – these are the thick stems which shoot from the ‘crown’ (the point where the rose was budded). Roses which are now being posted to you or collected in their pots here at the nursery are all VERY PRUNED and producing magnificent new growth!
See these ‘trimmed’ PAPA MEILLAND which are now potted in the nursery – your roses will do exactly the same if you give them a good prune NOW …
When roses produce lots of water shoots you can be guaranteed there is great root development which means the rose will continue to produce magnificent blooms throughout this flowering season – on new roses, these sturdy water shoots are an indication that the bush will be extremely well established for many seasons to come!
A TESTIMONIAL TO SHARE …
I had an older rose that had really suffered during last summers drought & very hot weather (despite my best efforts to look after it). When I received the bare rooted roses, you had also included information about using the Eco products, so I purchased some (as recommended), & began spraying that sick rose every fortnight. When I began the rose was just sticks, with no leaf at all & I thought I would lose it. In fact it looked so crook I never even gave it a winter pruning.
That rose responded like nothing I have ever seen. It went from bare sticks to producing foliage quite quickly. Then quite remarkable, given the fact that it was quite cold, the rose formed petals & next thing it was in full bloom. That rose right now has mass foliage & has rose flowers all over it. That’s remarkable considering we have had quite a number of heavy frosts, & it has been cold & windy.
My neighbours can’t believe it, nor can I. That’s so much for the advice about the sprays they are brilliant. Hope you are able to re-send me the latest newsletter. Mervyn”
Truly, really, if you want to have beautiful, healthy-foliaged roses throughout this season, roses which produce masses of blooms continually and give you the greatest pleasure, please use the ECO-PRODUCTS which we have used for more than 25 years of rose-growing – safe for us and our family who have grown up around roses, safe for our visitors and customers who purchase our fabulous quality roses!
If you cannot find the OCP (Organic Crop Protectants) products in your local garden centre, please go to our online store www.rosesalesonline.com.au and we will send the products to you via Australia Post. ALL PRODUCTS MADE IN AUSTRALIA – ALL REGISTERED ORGANIC!
GRA’S GARBLE …
I had another lovely group of people for rose pruning demonstration last Saturday and if I am about when you come to visit us at the Rose Farm, please don’t hesitate asking for a special demonstration – always happy to oblige!
Q. Why did the bees go on strike?
A. Because they wanted more honey and shorter working flowers.
In MY garden I have a couple of lovely hedges of DAVID AUSTIN ROSES … MUNSTEAD WOOD and MOLINEUX – here are a couple of varieties which I’m definitely going to plant as hedges in coming months … they’re so much like peony flowers …
Large globular clear pink flowers with strong rich, old-rose myrrh fragrance. The blooms are held on strong, thornless stems of a very healthy, robust bush of 1.2 x 1 metre – very highly recommended rose!
GOLDEN CELEBRATION
One of the largest blooms in the DA selection and has an exceptionally strong tea-rose perfume. Can be used as a short climber or nicely rounded, slightly arching shrub to 1.5 x 1.5 metres – awesomely beautiful rose!
JUDE THE OBSCURE
Magnificently fragrant blooms of clotted cream on a sturdy rounded shrub to delight ALL your senses continually throughout the flowering season – stunning
We are constantly asked about PEONY ROSES (they’re not ROSES AT ALL) – but rather, an herbaceous plant which flowers in spring/early summer and unless you live in a very cold zone or are prepared to place ice over their corms whilst they are developing flowers in late winter, we suggest you grow some of these David Austin roses which will afford you huge, frilled-petalled blooms from spring through to winter and have all the glory of PEONIES!
Q. What is black and white and dangerous? A. A magpie with a machine gun.
With spring fast approaching we can see the magpies starting to pair-up, the kookaburras keeping an eye on them and yesterday morning, I’m sure I heard a thrush … all signs of the birds around us starting to build nests when their bubs herald the new season.
It’s been pretty wet EVERYWHERE so do take care while trouncing around the rose garden, whether you’re pruning or weeding … be sure to take a couple of ‘biscuits’ of straw, maybe thick wads of newspaper or pieces of carpet to stand on because your weight will compact the soil and could cause long-term damage and drainage issues in the garden!
Once you’ve pruned all the roses be sure and fertilize with quality all-purpose organic fertilizer – pick up a bag of COF (complete organic fertilizer) when you visit or get the best quality you can buy at your local garden centre. DON’T FERTILIZE NEWLY PLANTED ROSES just yet – seaweed applications weekly for the ‘new roses’ then fertilizer for ALL THE ROSES again in 8 weeks …