ROSE RAMBLER, 29TH MARCH, 2018 …

Hello dear rose friends as we now enter a very busy time here at the Rose Farm and away at different events …

EASTER TRADING HOURS CLOSED GOOD FRIDAY – OPEN SAT SUN MON AS USUAL – 9AM – 4PM

UNSH Rose Regional shared Rose Sales Online’s post: “Diana Sargeant from Rose Sales Online is flying up from Victoria to be with UNSH on Sunday 8th April 2018 11am -5.30 pm Galston Community Centre, 37 Arcadia Rd, Galston. Meet Diana, have a chat, see the beautiful Rose Display. Her book “All About Roses” will be for sale, she will autograph it. Enjoy the teas and other stalls.”

Then, I also hope you’ve booked to come to Art & Roses or Tesselaar’s Plant Expo on either Saturday or Sunday of the following weekend!

Please call me on 03 5787 1123 for more information about the above events.

GRA’S GARBLE …

Firstly, thanks for your messages when the rose I bred, GRA’S BLUE, was awarded: Rose of the Month, March, 2018, an initiative of AusRose Promotions. Now, GRA’S BLUE is also in the running for AUSTRALIAN BRED ROSE OF THE YEAR, 2018 and we’ll let you know when you can vote accordingly.

MULCHING YOUR GARDEN …

It is said that mulching is the first essential for any Australian garden. Mulch provides food for worms (who will start breeding soon) and also provides organic matter for a well-balanced and vital soil.

Mulch prevents run-off of top soil thus reducing erosion. We use all types of mulch on our gardens –

LUCERNE – acts as food for worms, provides green manure and encourages soil microbes to proliferate as it leaches nutrients into the soil;

PEA STRAW – good open mulch to allow moisture penetration and natural nitrogen for plant leaf growth;

WHEAT/OAT STRAW – supplies silica nutrient for stem growth and is very easy to apply. (Editor – Diana: this straw also grows the most amazing weeds you ever did see which Gra calls GREEN MANURE and which I call A MESS.)

EUCY MULCH – we use thick layers of this product on garden borders and paths rather than around our roses.

To retain warmth and moisture in your soil right up until winter, it is important to top-up the mulch NOW to provide ideal conditions for worms to breed – remember, they’re the army of workers you want in your garden as they aerate and fertilize the soil naturally!

CLIMBING ROSES … CHALLENGING?

Yes, they can be and it is especially important to get advice when selecting the right variety for your location and you are welcome to send pictures and dimensions via email: info@rosesalesonline.com.au so that we can give you the best advice for successful climbing rose growing. If you nominate the colour and any other specific requirements, we’ll suggest the variety to best suit your garden.

Here’s an email from Alison: “I’m a bit disappointed in Mr Lincoln (climber) who has barely flowered but has put out huge long canes that I don’t know what to do with. I’m guessing the care advice will be the same as your last reply but how do I manage these canes? The wire for them runs under the fascia on the verandah.”

( Left: MR LINCOLN RIGHT:MR. LINCOLN CLIMBING )

MY RESPONSE: I don’t like MR. LINCOLN CLIMBING for that reason … great arching canes which carry the most ferocious thorns! There isn’t a red climbing rose with just a few thorns so there’s a HUGE gap in the rose market for a highly fragrant dark red CLIMBING rose! I’ll ask Graham to do breeding with … NAHEMA X FIREFIGHTER which might result in a less thorny, highly fragrant, dark red climbing rose … Ha Ha!

(BOTTOM: NAHEMA TOP: FIREFIGHTER)

Meantime, I think GUINEA (not as highly fragrant) or PAPA MEILLAND, CLB. are more gentle dark red, climbing roses. MR. LINCOLN, CLB. needs to be strapped to a wall or fence – definitely NOT near where there is human traffic!

( TOP: GUINEA MIDDLE: PAPA MEILLAND BOTTOM: MR. LINCOLN CLIMBING)

For a situation where you have wires under the fascia of the verandah, I would more highly recommend RENAE, CREPUSCULE, PINKIE or others which are more well-foliaged and way less thorny!