| Author | Message | ||
     Robert Edwards (Ownroot) Bug Squisher Username: ownroot Post Number: 4 Registered: 01-2006 |
Thanks for the input! -Ron, you're right, this time of the year would be ideal, I'm going to try to have them up within the next few weeks. -Cass, I've mulched twice a year religiously but I'm realizing perhaps it hasn't been deep enough, perhaps only an inch or so deep. I'll try at least 3" this year. I have had many roses root from the base of the cane into the lighter topsoil around the base, so I thought that perhaps these teas would do so if buried. I'm just not happy with that option though; 'think I'm gonna dig 'em. -Stephen, I'm sorry I couldn't stay to meet you last night but wanted to thank you for coming to the Dallas Rose Society meeting last night. I really enjoyed the pruning demonstration and slides, especially of your yard! Thanks so much for speaking to us. Robert | ||
| stephen scanniello (Steprose) Bug Squisher Username: steprose Post Number: 143 Registered: 01-2006 |
Hmm, I might recommend digging them, and replanting since your soil seems to be of the heavy "gumbo" style. Definitely include some mulch in your new planting. by the way, welcome to our forum! stephen | ||
| Cass Bernstein (Cass) Bug Squisher Username: Cass Post Number: 23 Registered: 01-2006 |
Robert, I don't know of any way your roses can benefit from your work amending your heavy soils if you don't dig them up and replant them. As for moving 10 year old teas, that doesn't sound like a job I'd like to have. They must be at least 6 x 6 now, and probably bigger. Have you had the soil thickly mulched all along? I've found that laying good compost and mulch on top of the soil goes a long way to improving tilth and soil chemistry. Mulch can't improve drainage, but even drainage can otherwise be improved with plants already in place. | ||
| Ron Robertson (Lemecdutex) Bug Squisher Username: lemecdutex Post Number: 35 Registered: 01-2006 |
Well, if you dig them up at this time of year you probably won't need to prune them back as much. I'm not sure they can survive having a foot or more of soil being piled around them. | ||
| Robert Edwards (Ownroot) Greenhorn Username: ownroot Post Number: 1 Registered: 01-2006 |
Hello! I'm hoping for some opinions on a decision I have to make about a 10-year-old bed I'm revising. It contains several old Teas (Mme. Lombard/ Berkeley/ Jos. Schwartz, Duchesse de B, etc.)and I am widening and DEEPENING it. My soil is so darn heavy that even after having added literally tons of amendments years ago the soil has returned to heavy, slow draining clay. So I'm raising the whole bed about 12-14 inches. ***THE QUESTION: should I dig up and transplant the old bushes or leave them in place and raise the soil level around them? I've read that roses are like tomatoes in that they don't mind being buried deeper than originally planted but I certainly don't want to smother them. I also think they'd prefer having all their roots in the newer soil, but is it worth it to set them back a year or two by transplanting? I really want to take care of these ladies, they've bravely struggled through Texas black clay and heat and deserve to be happy! |