Argh I just lost a huge post, allegedly saved in drafts too.
Welcome Peter Aberdeen, great advice and recommendations above, I hope you have much fun with it.
Looks like you have achieved a nice shape there Nollie. I now go by gut too when pruning but it probably boils down to pruning lightly if the rose's canes are multiple and fine and harder for the specimens with fewer brutish ones.
After all my lifting and repotting and up-potting I am out of soil and compost even though I thought I had more than enough. The growing medium is a costly element to this pot hobby. But I do like the order in my pots all pruned and pushed together with uniform surfaces.
A visit to the local garden centre was required today anyway to change leaky wellies still under warranty. No bargainous roses for me unfortunately but there was a shiny new David Austin display which was very well stocked with a fullish range at £29.99 a rose. I resisted.
I didn't resist a heavily discounted Aceramoenum 'Firecracker' at £9 and multiple bags of spring bulbs at 50p each.
What was shocking was the warehouse full of unsold Christmas tat that was being packed away. What on earth will happen to that I wonder and why the overstocking disaster? Is it because of the cost of living now or are people finally done with cheap plastic junk?
I went to order the usual DA rose fertiliser but there was only a new, once a year, slow release product available now.
@Tack, I found the same amount of discounted Christmas tat at both GC's I went to yesterday. I, too, wondered what happened to all the leftovers. They surely don't have the manpower to repack all the fragile ornaments properly. I suspect it might all just be junked.
You and Nollie are talking me into giving my 3 roses a much harder prune, if only I had the courage.
Well I’ve taken the plunge and defoliated, pruned and mulched all the roses in the East garden as they were putting out vigorous new growth amongst the tatty, blackspotted leaves. I’ve also lifted and chopped down the Penissetum Rubrum for storage until Spring as they too had a few new shoots.
La Rose de Molinard was due for the compost heap in the sky since the blooms spoil horribly in rain and it’s spot is now earmarked for Boule de Neige. However, the fragrance is so intoxicating I find myself reluctant to do the deed. I need to find some determination, or yet another pot..
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
I'd keep it, Nollie... who says there is going to be any rain next growing season?
Very tempted by a few things- from Style, "Rhubarb and Custard", from Harkness, "Born Free" and "Garden Glory." But I think I will wait for the potted season for any new roses now- then they won't just be added to the mountain awaiting pruning. 😟 @Tack hmm... what rose fertiliser are you going for as an alternative? Totally agree about the Christmas junk. I do love it all but we usually just add one or two little decorations a year... it's not stuff you fill your trolleys with unless you are just setting up your home, perhaps.
..don't forget, if you want the original DA fertilizer, Vitax Azalea is identical, but you don't get as much for your money.
I had 'Blush Noisette' removed today.. been there many years and I wanted a change. It'll be a Pittosporum going in its place though..
At this time of year I have a strange obsession, quite unhealthy, pondering which names DA will give to their new releases.. I know - get a life.. As they are fond of literary names, and for a dark, masculine red or purple, then I rather fancy 'Oliver Mellors' but I doubt they'd be so daring, however I do think it would sell like hot cakes.. A little less obvious would be 'The Gamekeeper'..
Yes I admit to having watched 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' on Netflix just recently.. lol..
Yeah, who knows what the weather will be like this year @WhereAreMySecateurs, I might give LRdM a year in a pot tucked under the eaves somewhere and see how it does. Does your Boule de Neige need any support BTW? It says it has upright growth so I’m wondering whether to leave the existing obelisk in place for it or not.
Marlorena, I’m wondering why nobody has ever named a sultry red or purple Marlene Dietrich. Too Germanic for DA, probably. A Dame Vivienne Westwood rose would be a nice tribute but it would need to be lively colour - she would turn in her grave if it was a mimsy pastel number!
@Lizzie27, oh, well done, hope it gives them a boost. For feeding, when roses are starting to put on new growth would be a good time, usually about March I think although I start a bit earlier. I haven’t had DA or similar for a few years though since they no longer sell it to the EU.
I was actually going to ask my SIL to being over a few bags of DA food since I miss the ease of just scattering a handful under each rose. Not sure now it’s changed. It looks more like miracle gro granules and I notice it no longer says ‘organic based’ on the pack so be interesting to see how it is received..
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Took a while to catch up to the pending posts.. was books books books for last couple of months and now that exams are out of the way I can focus on my roses..
Good to see a few new members.. Welcome all
Fire is being missed.. hope everything is ok.. remember the discussion about 'stamens' last year and I am pretty sure it was Fire who started it..
Lovely rose orders everyone.. Your order from France look good Marlorena.. and I kept looking at Tacks Purple lodge.. the one rose I wanted to order this year.. Guess I ordered enough purples for a year.. will get it some other year..
La rose de Molinard went to the ground to empty the pot.. now that it is done, I am feeling guilty that I did not give it a second chance.. as Nollie mentioned, the scent on it was fantastic.. might just do a rescue..
My order from De-wilde did not go well.. shipped on 22nd November and received on 15th December.. will post photos later.. but the stems look shriveled and roots dried up as bone.. I did sent them pics and the response I got was; 'Keep them wet, trim the top and leave 10cms above ground'. Thanks for the tip, but I wanted my money back or another rose anyways, it was potted up in a DA pot as I was not too hopeful on that..
Posts
You and Nollie are talking me into giving my 3 roses a much harder prune, if only I had the courage.
La Rose de Molinard was due for the compost heap in the sky since the blooms spoil horribly in rain and it’s spot is now earmarked for Boule de Neige. However, the fragrance is so intoxicating I find myself reluctant to do the deed. I need to find some determination, or yet another pot..
Very tempted by a few things- from Style, "Rhubarb and Custard", from Harkness, "Born Free" and "Garden Glory." But I think I will wait for the potted season for any new roses now- then they won't just be added to the mountain awaiting pruning. 😟
@Tack hmm... what rose fertiliser are you going for as an alternative? Totally agree about the Christmas junk. I do love it all but we usually just add one or two little decorations a year... it's not stuff you fill your trolleys with unless you are just setting up your home, perhaps.
I had 'Blush Noisette' removed today.. been there many years and I wanted a change. It'll be a Pittosporum going in its place though..
At this time of year I have a strange obsession, quite unhealthy, pondering which names DA will give to their new releases.. I know - get a life..
As they are fond of literary names, and for a dark, masculine red or purple, then I rather fancy 'Oliver Mellors' but I doubt they'd be so daring, however I do think it would sell like hot cakes..
A little less obvious would be 'The Gamekeeper'..
Yes I admit to having watched 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' on Netflix just recently.. lol..
Marlorena, I’m wondering why nobody has ever named a sultry red or purple Marlene Dietrich. Too Germanic for DA, probably. A Dame Vivienne Westwood rose would be a nice tribute but it would need to be lively colour - she would turn in her grave if it was a mimsy pastel number!
@Lizzie27, oh, well done, hope it gives them a boost. For feeding, when roses are starting to put on new growth would be a good time, usually about March I think although I start a bit earlier. I haven’t had DA or similar for a few years though since they no longer sell it to the EU.
I liked the satirical suggestion of a Harry and Megs rose upthread. Harry is set to become a literary character so it makes sense.😁
Took a while to catch up to the pending posts.. was books books books for last couple of months and now that exams are out of the way I can focus on my roses..
Good to see a few new members.. Welcome all
Fire is being missed.. hope everything is ok.. remember the discussion about 'stamens' last year and I am pretty sure it was Fire who started it..
Lovely rose orders everyone.. Your order from France look good Marlorena.. and I kept looking at Tacks Purple lodge.. the one rose I wanted to order this year.. Guess I ordered enough purples for a year.. will get it some other year..
La rose de Molinard went to the ground to empty the pot.. now that it is done, I am feeling guilty that I did not give it a second chance.. as Nollie mentioned, the scent on it was fantastic.. might just do a rescue..
My order from De-wilde did not go well.. shipped on 22nd November and received on 15th December.. will post photos later.. but the stems look shriveled and roots dried up as bone.. I did sent them pics and the response I got was; 'Keep them wet, trim the top and leave 10cms above ground'. Thanks for the tip, but I wanted my money back or another rose