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[myrhiann]

I have only 4 bare root roses still waiting to be planted now, and we have rain predicted for the next few days which should help to settle in the roses that are already in the ground. I have also finally managed to plant the spring bulbs, a bit late, but hopefully they will still grow successfully. The front garden is now starting to look like a

Comments

[rhodielady_47]

Most roses grow much better on their own roots.
I plan on planting my grafted roses below the graft line so that the upper rose can hopefully sprout its own roots.
There are few things more lovely than a rose garden.
Good luck with your cuttings. Do you have access to any willows? If you do, get a few willow twigs and soak them in a bucket of water for a few days. Then use that water to water your rose cuttings with. The willow releases a chemical into the water which encourages root formation in other plants.
:)

[myrhiann]

Thanks for the info on willows. Unfortunately I don't have access to them, but our local gardening guru advises dipping the base of stems in honey before planting, this seems to work well. I know they are better grown with their own roots, but I am in a hurry after a 3 year drought. It has been soul destroying for me to live without a garden, but there was too much else to be done to this house first, to make it habitable.

[rhodielady_47]

Sounds like you got a real fixer-upper. I've never gotten one of those. All the places I've lived in have been scrubber-uppers though. I learned to get handy with the shelf-liner contact paper and the foaming disinfectant spray.
My usual routine was to go in and clean the kitchen and one bathroom with the foaming disinfectant spray. Once I had every surface clean, I got the drawers and cabinets lined with the contact paper and then got as much of my kitchen and bathroom plunder put up as I could within the first few hours after we got the place. It goes a lot faster if you buy striped or plaid contact paper--you can use the lines to cut along.

It has really hurt my feelings this spring to have to wait and wait to get in my garden to work the soil. Bad enough it happened last spring but it's really too much
that this has happened two years in a row.
:]

[pondhopper]

I love seeing roses grow from simple cuttings. It's like a miracle and it makes that rose so much more special. There are hormonal rooting powders that really help.

Lovely, bright sunset!

[sidherian]

Sounds like the garden is coming along nicely :)