Gardening?

[Jakaleena]

Hmmm. Maybe the geographical area has something to do with it too then.

When I lived in Portland, OR I had 35 rose bushes of various types. With the exception of the climbing rose I had, which was a spoaradic bloomer until it was about 3 years old, they all bloomed insanely all summer long... All I did was feed them monthly and keep the dead blooms cut.

Of course, Portland is the rose capital of the world... But since I've moved to Ohio, I haven't put in any rose bushes yet, so I'm not sure if they perform differently in this kind of climate.

[Ed_L]

I asked my wife about the blooming characteristics of roses. She is not an authority on roses, but she does know gardening pretty well. She told me quite a bit about roses, but I didn't retain it very well. She is from the school that (for the most part) it is better to improve the soil than to fertilize. She feels that with good soil, it isn't necessary to fertilize except for certain types of roses like tea roses (which we don't have). She mentioned that the midwest is not the best place for roses, and she did mention that Oregon was great due to the more stable temperatures and being relatively drought free. In her opinion, cold temps in winter, and hot temps in summer along with wild fluctuations in rainfall and snowfall combined with soil conditions have a lot to due with how well roses will do from year to year.

If she knew I posted this, she wouldn't be a happy camper because there have been times when I didn't listen --- I just heard her talking! But since she knows flowers pretty well, I thought I'd try to get it right. Now I'm goiong to do something really bad. I'm gonna hit the "submit reply" button.

Ed

[Jakaleena]

Your stories about you and your wife just crack me up, Ed.

I'd agree with her about the soil improvement in lieu of fertilizer, but along with being the rose capital of the world, Portland is also the aphid capital of the world. The rose food I used also had a systemic pesticide that eliminated those nasty li'l critters.

She is also very correct about Portland having the perfect climate for roses.

Here are way more facts than you ever wanted to know about Portland and roses:

Portland is nicknamed "The Rose City" or "City of Roses"

Portland is home to the International Rose Test Gardens

The Portland Trail Blazers play at the Rose Garden, which is in the Rose Quarter District (near where I used to live - I could walk to the games)

Portland is the site of the Rose Festival, a month-long celebration, part of which is the Grand Floral Parade - the second largest parade of floats made from flowers after the Pasadena Rose Parade.

[Doug Nelson]

It is the first year for these roses, so I'll give them another year before I rip them out and put down sod

[fugitive]

And I live here, amongst all the roses, and rain. I got 2 mini roses last summer, and 2 more this, but I killed one already. I'm thinking of putting them in the ground, as life in a pot is hard.

[Jakaleena]

Here's some pretty good info about roses

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/p...oses/rose.html

http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1172.htm

One thing I just read is that there are everblooming roses and then roses that only bloom once or twice a year. If I read correctly, it's more common for the once/twice blooming ones to be climbers.

Just to mention a few points made in the above articles:

The amount of light and the drainage are also important. It says that roses need 6-10 hours of direct sun every day, and that the morning sun is the most important since it drys the leaves which reduces the risk of leaf mold. It also says that roses hate "wet feet" and that good drainage is also important.

Also, "Roses need lots of water. If roses do not get enough water they will wilt, drop leaves, grow smaller leaves or stop blooming."

Roses like less frequent, "deep" watering which promotes better roots (shallow watering causes roots too near the ground surface)

[fugitive]

Thanks Jac, I did learn some things from the sites.

[Ed_L]

This one blooms all summer.

Ed

[Ed_L]

Shade garden pic#1

Ed

[Blacknight]

OO! Hostas, or as well call them here in the great northwest, Slug bait. I have some really lovely hostas, but I can't enjoy them for very long because the slugs (a snail with no shell - like a sea slug if you'eve ever seen one of those) eat them full of holes.

[Ed_L]

Yes, hostas! She has quite a few different kinds. Here is a pic of the largest, which I think she called "Summer Substance". We don't have much of a problem with slugs in the northern part of the state. Drive about 100 miles south, and it's a different story!

Ed

[Jakaleena]

We have hostas here too - and yes, slugs...

If you don't want to use slug bait, which can harm other animals, dig a few shallow holes in the flower bed and set bowls of beer into them. Slugs love beer and will crawl in and drown....

[Blacknight]

Raspberries!

Whoever wants some just stop on by. They're just starting to get ripe. Sampled a few already, and they're just SOOO good! No seeds like blackberries, and the bushes that bear them have soft thorns, so it's so easy to pick them.

Bring your own baskets.

[Blacknight]

Originally posted by Jakaleena
We have hostas here too - and yes, slugs...

If you don't want to use slug bait, which can harm other animals, dig a few shallow holes in the flower bed and set bowls of beer into them. Slugs love beer and will crawl in and drown....

I have heard of some natural products, one called Sluggo and the other Escar-go, which slugs love more than hostas, supposedly. They are not harmful to pets or the environment, or so the advertisements say. Have yet to go searching for them, but it's on my list!

[fugitive]

I for one am not throwing away good money to get slugs drunk! They can bring their own!

Interesting tip though.