Hi all, treated myself to a pair of Niwaki GR Pro S-type secateurs (with yellow handles in the photo). Very nice and sharp, cuts through thicker rose stems with ease.
The Niwaki website says “Ergonomically these are more suitable for slightly weaker and smaller hands than other full-size secateurs”, but I have to say my years-old Okatsune (with red and white handles in the photo) still fits better in my tiny child-sized hands.
Still it’s a nice addition to my garden tools, happy with it.
I have seen the suggestion of putting tea leaves or bags around the base of roses in earlier threads - does anyone know if decaffeinated tea will work? And should I do it all year or just spring or when do you think? On potted roses too? Thank you.
Had a disastrous morning. I decided to dig up and put in a pot my weakly Chandos Beauty, originally planted in Feb 22. Got everything ready but first had to remove the perennial plants already in the pot. Halfway through this, it started to rain - heavily. Carried on, lifted the plants and then discovered another layer of T n T Daffs underneath, busily growing. Dug these up with some difficulty and then mixed J.I.3 compost with 50% multi purpose and grit. Still raining. Went to dig up the CH rose, levered it out, grabbed the main stem to steady it which then promptly snapped at the graft point! I was absolutely gutted. Potted up the daffs and other plants, put everything away and retreated indoors to dry out/coffee/chocolate.
I've just ordered another bareroot CH from Eastcroft Roses as my Xmas presie to myself.
What a shame @Lizzie27, I'm sorry you had such a time. Weather was dry here first thing but poured down ever since.
When I planted the Country Parson I managed to tip it out of the pot upside down into the hole. Luckily nothing was broken. But then, after putting it in right way up, and starting to refill the hole, I realized that I'd forgotten the mycorrhizal fungi, so I tried to sprinkle it down the sides of the roots and fell into the flower bed. It took me ages to get up because i didn't want to put my hands in the soil (it was quite wet) or onto prickles.
Glad I'm not the only one @kate.james58! I've done that before, forgotten the fungi powder and tried to rectify matters. Made a right mess.
Just adding, I added tea leaves around roses last year on @Marlorena's advice to keep aphids away from them (I think). Don't know whether decaffeinated leaves would work.
I seem to spend hours every now and then, splitting the teabags and carefully collecting the dregs - is life worth it I sometimes wonder?? Really hoping Yorkshire Tea comes up with biodegradeable tea bags very soon.
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The Niwaki website says “Ergonomically these are more suitable for slightly weaker and smaller hands than other full-size secateurs”, but I have to say my years-old Okatsune (with red and white handles in the photo) still fits better in my tiny child-sized hands.
Still it’s a nice addition to my garden tools, happy with it.
And should I do it all year or just spring or when do you think? On potted roses too?
Thank you.
The new CB will be healthier and grow bigger and better!
When I planted the Country Parson I managed to tip it out of the pot upside down into the hole. Luckily nothing was broken. But then, after putting it in right way up, and starting to refill the hole, I realized that I'd forgotten the mycorrhizal fungi, so I tried to sprinkle it down the sides of the roots and fell into the flower bed. It took me ages to get up because i didn't want to put my hands in the soil (it was quite wet) or onto prickles.
Glad I'm not the only one @kate.james58! I've done that before, forgotten the fungi powder and tried to rectify matters. Made a right mess.
Just adding, I added tea leaves around roses last year on @Marlorena's advice to keep aphids away from them (I think). Don't know whether decaffeinated leaves would work.
Not sure if Trevor White has any potted ones available.. atleast not the ones I looked at..