ROSE RAMBLER 25.7.2013
Hello dear rose friends … since he’s become an overnight rage about all things roses, let’s move right into
GRAHAM’S GARDENING TIPS …
- it’s finally been raining and raining so mulch on your garden is essential to hold the topsoil in place … US President, Franklin D. Roosevelt said “A Nation that destroys it’s soil, destroys itself” and since Australia has one of the oldest soils in the world, we, as guardians of the earth must care for the soil as our top priority! The mulch should be at least 75mm thick all year.
- As soon as the sun shines again, we’ll all be mowing lawns – research has shown that odours produced from freshly mown lawn help your mental processes have a natural, happy ‘high’ .. no Government tax on this one!
- My pick of all the roses coming into the Rose Farm for the best all-round performance would be ‘Violina’ for it’s beautiful long-stemmed, highly fragrant, tight bud of mid-pink which opens to a huge bloom suitable to vase! The healthy, well-foliaged bush grows to at least 1.2 metres tall and makes an ideal fragrant rose hedge…. One of the BEST roses!
- “You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She’s 97 today and we don’t know where the hell she is.” Ellen DeGeneres
Keep smiling and happy gardening, GRAHAM
STANDARD ROSES … While I was sitting at the Motel in Mount Gambier last week, it occurred to me how, sadly, people plant standard roses in the ‘wrong’ location … these standard roses were planted under the eaves within 30cms of the building, in front of windows which (obviously) had window screens and I can imagine how this rose planting might cause grief when the roses are in full bloom … branches scraping on and marking the windows, possibly slashing the screens …?
The roses would not be happy because the area under the eaves is generally a very dry zone and the grass growing right up around the stems of the standard roses will deplete even more moisture and energy from the roses!
Notice also that the ties are ‘wrong’ because if you tie a standard rose to a star post, the rose cannot fit snuggly against the stake! Although we use and recommend steel stakes, they must be either round or square tube which extends about 20 cms above the crown of the standard rose! Wooden tomato stakes will rot within two years and leave the standard rose very vulnerable in windy weather.
This photo shows you a well-supported standard rose with double-sided Velcro as the preferred tie material …
When you are planting anything in your garden, take a look ALL AROUND YOU – including upwards! Observe where the sun happens in the garden and how this changes with the seasons and most of all, take into account that the plants will grow bigger if you allow them the space to reach their mature potential.
WET WEATHER WARNING … Remember that roses are very water-wise plants and will not tolerate excessive water around the root-zone! Because it has been very wet in many parts of Australia, ensure that your roses are not drowning – especially newly planted roses will have difficulty if the soil is boggy – lift the roses into pots, correct the soil drainage and replant when the soil has settled. If you’re not sure about your soil type, bring a sample up to the Rose Farm and have a discussion with Graham.
IN CLOSING … Doris Day said: “I have found that when you are deeply troubled, there are things you get from the silent devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source” and I thank Caro for sharing this quote with us – prompted us to get on with sourcing another dog … sooner rather than later!
Thank you all for such caring and love … Diana & Graham