Hello dear rose friends … there’s been a bit of rain about so we encourage you to diligently proceed with your organic rose management program to protect the roses from fungal disease – remember prevention is far better than cure and in the case of the organic rose management program, way more economical too!
If you haven’t applied fertilizer over the garden beds, rain events are a brilliant opportunity to feed the garden but NEVER APPLY FERTILIZER TO WET FOLIAGE unless you know for 100% that heavy rain will follow the application. We usually water over the plants to be sure no fertilizer is sitting on the foliage … even quality organic fertilizer can burn foliage if hot sun shines on it!!!
When fertilizing, remember that you are feeding the soil so distribute the fertilizer pellets evenly around the plant root-zone – very important!
GRA’S GARBLE …
“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine,
food and medicine for the soul.”
– Luther Burbank
Hope your garden beds are well mulched by now! When I’m pulling weeds from my veggie patch, I keep two very separate piles of weeds – the creepy-crawly (couch, etc.) in one bucket and all the others are added to my compost heap and covered with a light layer of straw. Occasionally, I turn the heap and I most definitely keep it moist to speed up the break-down process.
I do the same thing around the garden – you become a bit resourceful when you get that little bit older! I make ‘mini compost heaps’ all around the yard like in my orchard, I’ve been trimming the trees prior to netting – those trimmed bits will go straight onto the ground, I’ll cover them with a bit of mulch and in no time, they’ll be composted back into the soil to benefit the fruit trees.
Doing compost like this DOES NOT LOOK UNTIDY – once it’s mulched it just looks like a mulched garden bed yet there’s a whole lot of goodness going on under that mulch. I always feel like I’m ‘giving back’ what the soil has so graciously provided.
The most important thing about composting in summer is to keep the heap nice and moist AT ALL TIMES and water-over occasionally with seaweed solution as this speeds up decomposition. When you use this compost to mulch around your roses, always put a light layer of straw over it so that the hot sun doesn’t kill off any beneficial microbes!
Q. What do you call a fly with no wings? A. A walk …. !
Tell this one at Christmas lunch – you’ll be a HIT … just like me … ha ha!
Summer gardening tip … get up early and go work in the garden in your dressing gown – just you and the birds! Take a rest in the very hot middle of the day and then go out again after dinner. You’ll get an adequate dose of Vitamin D and all you MUST DO will be done … enjoy the moments … Gra
ALMOST CHRISTMAS!
– so let us take the pressure off by sending a beautifully packaged ‘gift rose’ to someone you love … next MONDAY, 15TH DECEMBER is the cut-off date so DO IT NOW … you’re welcome to call me on 03 5787 1123 or you can proceed to rosesalesonline.com.au or giftroses.com.au where you’ll find a plethora of appropriately named roses to suit the recipient.
Here are a few roses named appropriately for gifting:
PLAYBOY for the fun guy and girls, you NEED one of these too
– if not in your bed, most definitely plant one in your garden!
PLAYGIRL for the ‘sassy-lassy’ in your life
– every guy should have one!
SPIRIT OF PEACE
– the name simply says it all at Christmas!
FORGET ME NOT – one of THE MOST MAGNIFICENT roses to be released last year;
it will grow beautifully for even the most novice rose gardener.
Call me if you don’t like the above suggestions and together we’ll find a really beautiful variety to make a lasting impression of your giving this Christmas!
Of course, you can ALWAYS very simply buy my book – ALL ABOUT ROSES which I will happily inscribe with your personal message or organise for a gift voucher to be posted!
Remember to use your garden for respite as the season hots up
– see you soon at Clonbinane …
~ Diana, Graham & Mooi
