Myth #3: Tramp down hard on the earth around a newly planted rose
Read Myth #2, above: tramping = soil compaction; soil compaction = no air; no air = sulky rosesMyth #4: Roses needs lots of fertiliser
Well, yes and no. Many of the rose fertilisers on the market today have very high N-P-K formulas. I've heard Judith talk about these in the past: she thinks there ought to be a prescription for these fertilisers, they're that strong!The best way to feed roses, says Judith, is to renovate the planting hole each year by carefully pulling away the soil from the upper third of the rose bed and replacing it with organic matter. You could also add a low N-P-K formula fertiliser like Pink Vigoro or alfalfa pellets which are high in nitrogen. Now, this can be difficult to find in your local nursery, but if you live in the country, pelleted alfalfa is often available at agricultural co-ops. In the city, Judith has found it in pet shops (gerbils love it). Wegener's Growth Promotant, available from Lee Valley Tools also contains alfalfa. Another good supplement for roses is vitamin B1 which increases metabolism. But be careful: a rose with a high metabolism is one that needs lots of food, so never use B1 without adding fertiliser. Some transplant solutions contain B1 (Dixon Reid) as does SuperThrive.
Having dispelled these myths about growing roses, Judith reminds us that although roses are "princesses", they're easy to grow: simply give them what they want and they'll reward you with fairy tale blooms.
Go To Page: 1 2
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Lorraine Flanigan's Southern Ontario Gardens topic, please visit the Discussions page.