On the subject of Sarah Raven, a friend sent this message:
Hi lovely, not sure if this is of any use but Sarah raven has 25% off most things. I just bought some Uncle toms 500ml £14.99 each you do pay postage but you can use GW23DEC for another 10% off.
@kate.james58 My advice to you is, don't go cheap with roses, where compost is concerned. There aren't enough nutrients in cheaper composts to produce the best results unfortunately. I also favour late winter potting up of roses, as if you over pot them in Autumn, those nutrients will just get washed out by Spring and it goes to waste I think, as the rose won't have the root system to make use of it.
For future potting, better results are obtained with a rough 50/50 mix JI no. 3 and MPC. Some garden soil can be added, or some composted manure too. A good rich mix.
However, it's up to you and we all do what we can manage best.. costs, time, effort etc..
Sorry @Marlorena, I should have been more specific. The John Innes No 3 Compost at the garden centre is the cheapest I have found. It's a little independent nursery so I try to support them as much as possible. I usually buy multi-purpose from the milkman as it's free delivery, but I shall probably get that in the delivery also, and possibly some bags of manure, although I do have home made compost. Thanks for the advice.
And when I say it's sorted, I haven't actually ordered any compost yet. maybe on Friday. But perhaps it will be better to leave things where they are for the moment. Drilling drainage holes in the tubs is as far as I've got.
Talking of Colin Dickson's retirement, he comes from a long line of rose breeders in his family. His great grandfather Alexander produced masses of roses, a few of which are still with us. He also found and introduced 'Kathleen Harrop', which is grown everywhere.
Here's one of my favourite roses he introduced in 1909.. it's similar to earlier varieties 'Tom Wood' and 'Hugh Dickson' and likely related I think.
'Dr. O'Donel Browne'.. on good days a superb scent like Bourbon roses.
@kate.james58 , I mix it in a wheel barrow if it is 50 liter packets. I mix on patio if it is 100 liter ones. I cant lift up a 100 liter pack. First I put a large cardboard down on patio so nothing is wasted and I can collect everything at the end. I wish I could get bulk delivery but our driveway is so much sloped that bulk delivery guys refuse to deliver on it and take it back.
Taylors clematis and Sarah Raven together is good for me as one P&P for different kind of plants.
Thanks @newbie77, cardboard is a good idea, I will try to save some from the recycling. I don't have a wheelbarrow as the garden isn't really big enough to need one. I do have a biggish rubber tub (I can't remember what you call them) with handles at either side but it is difficult to mix large quantities in.
I struggle to lift the 25 litre packs that my local garden centre sell! I do have a sack truck so I can move bags from the car to the garden on that, but only one at once. The alternative to getting it delivered would be to go once a week for 1 bag and build up a stock gradually.
I don't think I could get a bulk bag delivered here as the car park is on a lower level than the house and there is a path with railings in between and then the garden fence. The garden centre will deliver in 25 litre bags.
I mix my compost in 2 trugs (the rubber tubs). I pour in my mix of whatever then mix it as best as I can with my garden fork nhjjp then pour it from one trug to the other once or twice for an extra mix then into the pots. It's a good work out and you only need to mix it in amounts you can manage to lift.
Posts
Hi lovely, not sure if this is of any use but Sarah raven has 25% off most things. I just bought some Uncle toms 500ml £14.99 each you do pay postage but you can use GW23DEC for another 10% off.
My advice to you is, don't go cheap with roses, where compost is concerned. There aren't enough nutrients in cheaper composts to produce the best results unfortunately. I also favour late winter potting up of roses, as if you over pot them in Autumn, those nutrients will just get washed out by Spring and it goes to waste I think, as the rose won't have the root system to make use of it.
For future potting, better results are obtained with a rough 50/50 mix JI no. 3 and MPC.
Some garden soil can be added, or some composted manure too. A good rich mix.
However, it's up to you and we all do what we can manage best.. costs, time, effort etc..
I usually buy multi-purpose from the milkman as it's free delivery, but I shall probably get that in the delivery also, and possibly some bags of manure, although I do have home made compost.
Thanks for the advice.
Drilling drainage holes in the tubs is as far as I've got.
Talking of Colin Dickson's retirement, he comes from a long line of rose breeders in his family. His great grandfather Alexander produced masses of roses, a few of which are still with us.
He also found and introduced 'Kathleen Harrop', which is grown everywhere.
Here's one of my favourite roses he introduced in 1909.. it's similar to earlier varieties 'Tom Wood' and 'Hugh Dickson' and likely related I think.
'Dr. O'Donel Browne'.. on good days a superb scent like Bourbon roses.
I have a year until I get my state pension - I think it will all be spent on roses!
I wish I could get bulk delivery but our driveway is so much sloped that bulk delivery guys refuse to deliver on it and take it back.
Taylors clematis and Sarah Raven together is good for me as one P&P for different kind of plants.
I struggle to lift the 25 litre packs that my local garden centre sell! I do have a sack truck so I can move bags from the car to the garden on that, but only one at once. The alternative to getting it delivered would be to go once a week for 1 bag and build up a stock gradually.
I don't think I could get a bulk bag delivered here as the car park is on a lower level than the house and there is a path with railings in between and then the garden fence. The garden centre will deliver in 25 litre bags.