Planning Your Rose Garden

June 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Whether you have a lot of space or just a little, it’s lovely to plant a rose or two.  They like room to breathe, so give them a bit of open space round them.

Choosing roses can be great fun.  Pore over the catalogues or go and wander round the nursery and read all the labels. Whichever way you do it, it’s probably going to take ages, because there are so many varieties to choose from.
They all have  vices and virtues that need weighing up. Some bloom only once; some smell gorgeous; some look divine but have the most wicked thorns.  How to choose?

And then, you can start to think about what to plant with them.  Roses love certain companions, one of which is Garlic.  And perhaps, not by chance, it’s time to plant the garlic, and very nearly time to put the roses in as well.

So while you’re on the way to the nursery, call into the local organic shop and buy some fat purple garlic so you’ll have some on hand to plant near the new roses.                                                               Home

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Spring Roses

June 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

It’s probably true to say that Winter has arrived in Hobart.
Depending whether you’re an optimist or pessimist, that could be good or bad.

An optimist would say there’s not much time to get the roses ready for their Winter spell.  Eavesdrop in coffee shops to hear what the pessimist is saying!

But, if you want to herald in Spring with a gorgeous celebratory display of lush roses,  there are some chores to do in the garden.

While  it’s a bit chilly,  the pruning of the rose bushes is a really important part of an annual process.   Without it, bushes will be all over the place,
and rose production poor.

It’s a pretty thorny job as anyone who’s ever done it without due care will agree.
But with a bit of organization, and the right tools,
it’s not that hard.

Good equipment is essential.
Before anything else, get a pair of gloves that will protect you from the rose thorns.
You’ll want a good sharp pair of secateurs and, depending on the size of the bushes,
probably some loppers.
And, a container that you can pile all the thorny
waste into. If you chop it up as you go, it will go
into the normal wheely bin.

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Filed Under: All About Roses