Earthly Garden

I have always enjoyed getting the yearly edition of David Austin Roses Handbook. The roses I currently have in my front flowerbeds are over 45 years old and bloom maybe once every other year. I am not sure exactly who planted them before I came to live here in this house, but I moved them from the side of the house where they hardly were seen to the front so everyone can see them when they bloom the most beautiful pink roses.

I was curious one year what kind of rose bush it was so I requested the David Austin Handbook of Roses to help me pinpoint exactly what it is and the varieties of other bushes I could add to the mix as well. When the handbook first came to my mailbox I was so excited thumbing through the pages and seeing the wonderful varieties that it showed.

The David Austin Roses Limited is based in Tyler, Texas and offers a collection that is beyond words. They have every rose you could image such as English Roses for under $65 for three plantings to Old Roses under $20 to Modern Shrubs under $20 as well. They offer ways to display the roses to how to place them in the ground and the exact way to pick them to keep the bush or shrub producing yearly.

Thanks to this handbook I was able to prepare my rose bush for this blooming season and now’s the time to start pruning those roses to get them ready for the blooming season. This handbook can help you pick the best rose bush or shrub for your particular taste. Pick your copy up today, by clicking here.

1. Prune roses in late winter or early spring to help enhance circulation and to help prevent disease. Making cuts 1/4-inch above an outward bud and cutting at the same angel as the bub on the vine.

2. Using hand pruners, cut off any remaining foliage. Make the pruning cut about 1/2-inch below the dead wood on the rose vine. Clean your pruners with witch hazel or even rubbing alcohol between your cuts to help prevent any transfer of disease to one area of the rose vine to another.

3. Increase the air circulation within the rose bush by pruning out crossed canes or vine. This is any vine that is less than a pencil wide.

4. Next comes the process of shaping the shrub and cleaning it up. You want it to be uniform when all the other vines and canes grow in and also you want to leave room for new growth that will come in the late spring. Be sure you seal all cuts that you make with your knife or your pruners that are greater than a pencil width with some wood glue to prevent cane bored from entering the freshly made cuts.

5. If you want to protect your rose bush during the cold winter months, especially if you have transplanted the bush recently and before the harsh winter winds hit it, you need to cover the entire bush with plastic and secure the bottom so the wind won’t blow the plastic up. It’s best not to do any pruning until after winter passes. Mainly because the rose bush could be shocked and may even die.

With proper rose bush maintenance you rose bushes could bring your joy for many, many years. There is a rose bush in my garden that I separated and now have two of and they are more than 60 years old. I take great care of them and have respect for them as well. If you recently purchased a new rose bush to add to your garden, take great care of it and it will bring you joy every year and for many years to follow.

If you want to make a dramatic statement in your landscape, try using climbing roses and ramblers. If you provide the correct support for their growth, they will greatly increase the visual impact and beauty of your yard.

One thing to realize before you get started is that climbing and rambling roses are not true vines and won’t grow up a trellis or any other support without being encouraged to do so.

The support you choose should be sturdy enough to hold the full weight of a mature plant. Climbers reach heights of up to 18 feet while ramblers can grow as high as 40! The actual height depends on the variety. Ramblers are great for covering ugly walls while climbers do best in smaller spaces. Both would do fine on a fence.

Supports need to be able to stand up to all kinds of weather, so choose something sturdy and rot resistant.. This can be treated wood, metal, plastic, wire, or even pvc pipes like those used in plumbing. Make sure you put your plants and support exactly where you want them because they do not like being moved and most likely won’t survive.

The most commonly used supports for climbers and ramblers is a simple fence. They can easily be trained to drape over the top. This turns even the ugliest fence into a showstopper. If the fence you use happens to be a chain link type, you get the added bonus of increased air circulation, which all roses need and love.

Pillars, like those found on the porches of old homes, are also a great support for roses and again, extremely decorative. Smaller climbers can be trained to grow on small structures such as deck supports and mailboxes.

Various structures can also be found in nurseries and home centers. There are trellises, arches, pergolas, and more. You can also buy simple polls and make your own! Use thorn free varieties of roses in areas where people pass by or children/pets play.

If you want to cover a wall, attach a trellis or large piece of chicken wire cut to size to it first, making sure to leave enough space for proper air circulation, then carefully tie the canes to it.

Climbing and rambling rose supports can add structure and focal points to your garden, hide ugly areas and create beautiful hideaways. If you plan carefully and train properly, you will enjoy your climbers and ramblers for many years to come.

roses, trellis, gardens, gardening, beautifying your yard, landscaping

I wrote this for another site but I’ve since moved on and wanted to share it with all of you!

Do you know there are messages behind different colors of roses? That’s right, they have a language all their own! This was started by the Romans and used in the Victorian era as a discreet way to express one’s feelings to another. Read on to find out what your favorite color means!

Red roses have always meant love-deep, passionate, ever lasting love. White roses symbolize purity and brightness. A man who gives white roses is telling his love that he thinks she’s an angel! A mixed bouquet of red and white roses symbolizes unity. The man giving this kind of bouquet is saying “I stand united with you!”

Pink roses have several messages, depending on the shade. Deep pink roses symbolize gratitude and respect, while light pink roses show sympathy. Yellow roses on the other hand symbolize friendship and caring, while orange roses symbolize new beginnings, perhaps explaining why they are an increasingly popular selection for bridal bouquets!

If you receive a deep burgundy rose, someone is telling you they think you more beautiful than you realize.

The more exotic rose colors also have meanings. For example, green roses represent fertility while blue roses are symbol of mystery and intrigue. Purple roses signify enchantment and love at first sight. Black roses, not surprisingly, represent death, and perhaps more surprisingly, new beginnings.

It’s not just the colors of roses that speak volumes; it’s also the way they are presented. If you receive a bouquet of unopened roses, it is a symbol of youth and innocent love.

If they are all white, someone is telling you they love you but you are too young. A mix of red and pink buds means you are youthful and beautiful. If you receive a fully opened rose with two rosebuds, someone has a secret! If you receive a red rose and several yellow roses, you are being invited to join in the fun! A crown of roses symbolizes virtue and is often used at weddings as such, especially in the Greek Orthodox religion. Even the leaves of a rose have a message. They symbolize hope and optimism.

Now that you know about the secret language of roses, you can stop by your local florist or farmers market and put together a secret message of your own for that special someone! They say a picture is worth a thousands words, but a bouquet of roses can speak volumes more!

gardening, gardens, rose care, roses and their meanings, rose symbolism

Chances are you’ve seen the pots of miniature roses for sale in the store. Perhaps you’ve even given or received one as a gift, but have always wondered if they can they be grown successfully indoors. The answer is maybe, if you can provide the proper conditions. Given those conditions, they will bloom nearly year round with a brief rest period in the winter. Be aware though that it takes work and dedication to be successful.

Like regular roses, the miniature varieties require a lot of sunlight. 6 to 8 hours a day is best. A southern facing window is recommended. They also require moderate heat. If the temperature is too cold, they’ll go dormant, and it’s too warm the plant will dry out quickly and wilt or brown. Indoor roses also need to be watered more frequently than their outdoor counterparts because containers dry out much faster than the ground.

Drainage is also important for indoor roses to flourish. A good draining soil allows the roots to breathe and delivers nutrients while washing away salts and other harmful things that might be in the soil. If your roses are allowed to sit in water the roots will rot and the plant will die.

Miniature roses, despite their size, still need room to grow. The pot they come in will soon become too small. A 1 gallon container is recommended as anything smaller could cause the plant to become root bound and grow poorly. They are also heavy feeders and will need to be fertilized regularly.

A significant issue to consider when growing roses indoors is air circulation. Good circulation is critical for healthy plants. Without it, pests such as spider mites thrive, and dust and dirt settle on leaves, which literally suffocate the plant. Spider mites love heat, dry air and low air circulation. The solution is to increase the air circulation (try running a fan on low) and regular misting. The misting will also help clean dust and dirt from the leaves.

If growing roses indoors seems like a lot of work, it is! Don’t let that discourage you though. Provided you can give them the conditions they need and don’t mind the effort, you can have an indoor rose garden!

gardens, gardening, roses, miniature roses, growing roses indoors

Now is the time to prepare your roses for the coming winter. While some varieties are quite hardy, most need a little help in order to survive the harsh winters prevalent in many parts of the country. Here’s a quick guide on what to do.

First, stop feeding them. With the cool weather approaching you don’t want to encourage new growth, which will not survive. This is also the time to stop deadheading. Let the plant produce rosehips. This tells the plant it’s time to slow down and begin preparing for dormancy, and will also provide food for birds over the winter. Once the hips have formed you can remove the spent blooms.

You’ll also want to stop pruning, as this too encourages new growth. After the first hard frost, water thoroughly. Remove all fallen leaves and twigs and cover the base of the plant up to the crown with a thick layer of mulch. Avoid using leaves as mulch as they rot when wet and encourage fungal disease. They also provide a haven for insects. Try bark, wood chips, or straw. To protect the canes of climbing roses from cold dry winds, remove them from their support, tie them together, and secure to the ground. Cover with a layer of mulch. Don’t try and use the soil from around your plants as mulch as you risk damaging the roots. For non-climbers, carefully tie the canes together with twine or use a wire cage to support them. This will minimize possible breakage due to heavy snow or ice.

Once your roses are fully dormant move any remaining foliage and check the canes. Remove any that appear diseased, and trim back the remaining ones to about 24 inches. Replace the layer of mulch as needed (it may wash away in severe weather). After the first hard freeze, give your roses a dose of Epsom salts, which will promote root growth, Just work into the soil at the base of the plant.

In early spring remove the mulch and untie the canes, preferably before the new buds begin to swell. Put climbers back on their supports and feed only after they begin showing new growth. You should find your TLC rewarded with profuse blooms and healthy, happy plants!

roses, gardening, rose care, preparing roses for winter, mulching

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/ — Gold. It’s the color of success, sunshine and is associated with feelings of joy, intelligence and energy. As a rose color, it’s known for friendship, delight and the promise of a new beginning. For 2008, All-America Rose Selections(TM) (AARS(TM), http://www.rose.org) celebrates those sentiments with the introduction of its 2008 Winners: Dream Come True(TM) and Mardi Gras at this year’s Garden Writers Association Symposium in Oklahoma City.

As holders of the coveted “AARS Winner” title, these two new roses excelled during two years of testing against 15 criteria — including ease of maintenance and disease resistance — in the world’s toughest rose trial. Bearing the AARS red rose seal of approval ensures that these rose bushes will flourish in gardens nationwide.

“Since 1938, AARS has identified the best roses for gardens across the country,” said AARS president Tom Carruth. “We are continually impressed to see the unique — and exceptional — new rose varieties stand up to our rigorous testing. The 2008 Winners are sure to bring much delight to gardeners nationwide.”

Dream Come True
Dream Come True is a stunning sight of catchy colors, which lures the likes of even non-rose lovers to its side. This rose produces flawlessly formed yellow blossoms, blushed with ruby-red at the tips, all set amongst abundant matte green foliage. The big, bushy, vigorous plant yields long-stemmed, long-lived blooms with mild tea fragrance, making it lovely in the landscape and a great choice for bouquets.
Dream Come True was hybridized by Dr. John Pottschmidt of Cincinnati, Ohio — only the third amateur hybridizer to win the AARS Award in 67 years — and is introduced by Weeks Roses of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Mardi Gras
With flamboyant blooms in a novel blend of pink, orange, and yellow, and a delightful peppery scent, Mardi Gras creates a festive atmosphere in any setting. Each high-centered hybrid tea style bloom begins as an apricot-orange bud that slowly spirals open to reveal a 4-inch bright pink and orange bloom with a yellow base. As an All-America Rose Selections winner, this festive floribunda has proven to perform exceptionally well across the country with little-to-no care. The colorful blooms are perfectly framed with dark green, semi-glossy foliage, and its upright columnar habit makes Mardi Gras an ideal rose to use as a hedge or in a border with mixed perennials. Mardi Gras was hybridized by Keith Zary and is introduced by Jackson & Perkins Wholesale, Inc. of Medford, Ore.

gardening, flower gardens, All American Rose Selections, roses

Good Morning!

Many gardeners believe that certain plant combinations have definite
benefits, and science has proven this is indeed true. For example, garlic
repells rose pests such as aphids, so it is often planted with them. As
a bonus, garlic’s flowers look great with them! Another great combination
is tomatoes and cabbage. Tomatoes repel cabbage worms, a common
cabbage pest. Dill is another great companion for cabbage. It attracts
wasps that eat cabbage worms and other pests,and in return, the
cabbages support the dill.

Here are some other great combinations:
Corn and Beans-the beans attract insects that feed on
pests like leafhoppers and army worms.
Radishes and Spinach-Radishes attract leaf miners away
from the spinach. The miners don’t harm the radishes themselves.
Cauliflower and Zinnias-the Zinnias attract lady bugs, a very
beneficial insect that helps protect the cauliflower.

There are lots of other great combinations.Think about planting tall plants
near shorter,sun sensitive onesto provide protection and shade,
or planting vining plants with upright plants to make the most of your
garden space. What combinations do you have in your garden?
Post here and let me know!

Gardening Pic of the Day:

gardens,gardening,plants,combination planting,repelling pests

gardens, gardening, plants, combination planting, repelling pests

Dear Earthly Gardeners,

I love antique roses! If you thought you couldn’t grow roses, try some antiques. Also know as heirloom roses, they are low-maintenance, gorgeous plants that actually smell like roses are supposed to smell! I have nine antique rose bushes growing in my small garden, and each one is different. Unlike hybrid roses, heirlooms require no pesticides, strong fertilizers, or a rigid training/pruning schedule. I cut mine back when they get too large and that’s about it. I bought all of our roses at the wonderful Antique Rose Emporium in Brenham, TX, but they also do mail-order. Here’s a photo of some of them, just opened.

Yesterday I noticed that another of my favs, Mutabilis, has started blooming profusely all of a sudden. The roses on this large bush look like little butterflies, and each one changes color as they open! You can see a great photo of a Mutabilis rose HERE. Mine is actually taller than the six-feet mentioned on there, and covers part of the front fence.

Check out the information on the Antique Rose Emporium website…..lots of great color photos, inspiration, and you can order from there, too. And if you’re in the area, visit their gorgeous display gardens and take a picnic and a camera! You’ll find acres of blooming roses, antique buildings and other native and heirloom plants for your “inspirational” garden. And please, tell ‘em I sent ya!

dig it!

bobbi c.
Copyright ©2005-2007 by Bobbi A. Chukran. All rights reserved to text and photos.

antique roses, heirloom roses, old fashioned roses, Antique Rose Emporium, Texas roses, low maintenance roses, easy to grow roses, rose care, pruning roses