Rose pruning tips

Roses grow particularly well in Canberra, our climate provides bright sunshine and low humidity perfect for flowering and disease resistance.  That just means a winter oil spray and application of a good quality fertiliser after pruning and you can sit back and enjoy the new growth, abundant blooms and perfume over spring and summer.  I prefer a good handful of organic fertiliser for each rose.

Well it is now time to prune them. If you are confused about how to cut them and by how much don't despair.  These tips will make it easy.

Roses are tough and they respond very nicely from a good pruning, so pick up your pruning saw, loppers and secateurs.and get to it.

Depending on the type of rose the amount to cut off will be slightly different.  A carpet rose could literally be pruned with hedge shears and I do use my .stihl hedge trimmers for this type of job.

There are some general rules to follow:

Always look for diseased and really old wood these should be removed, sometimes at ground level but back to healthy wood.  For this part of the job you may need loppers or a pruning saw.

Cut back thin and spindly wood to the thickness of your little finger. and any wood that rubs and crosses over other wood cut it back to a bud that points in the direction you prefer new growth to be.

Climbing roses can be cut back approximately by a third, but should be encouraged to be shaped for some horizontal growth, so that you maximise the number of flowers.

Hybrid tea roses can be pruned back by at least half the size of the bush.  Prune to keep the central part of the bush open to allow air movement.

Pick up all cuttings and dispose of properly, apply an oil based spray and fertilise and the job is done. Don't forget to dead head and pick the roses as they come, this will promote more growth and flowers.

One last tip:  Watch for the graft usually near the ground level for any water shoots that appear below the graft.  These are not desired as they take energy away from the the rose you want to flower,

Drinking Vinegars: The Other Kind of Shrub | Garden Rant

Drinking Vinegars: The Other Kind of Shrub | Garden Rant: 'via Blog this'

Drinking vinegar seems strange and somewhat scary.  Has anyone tried these drinks?

Herb pots make it easy

A herb pot is an excellent method to keep plants growing and ready for use.  When you grow your own plants there is no need to dash to the shop just to get parsley. Home grown herbs, fruit and vegetables taste best and are very satisfying.  So how do you do it?
You will need:

6  herb pots  $36
I have used purple sage, curry plant, strawberries and oregano
15 litre bag premium potting mix $10
28 cm Herb pot $40
Prices are approximate

A herb pot should be in a sunny position, where it will receive at least 4-5 hours sunlight or more. They can be easily moved around your patio or garden to get more or less sun.  In a small pot it can be placed on a table where it is easy to pick herbs and strawberries and close to the kitchen.

Maples bleed when pruned in winter

Maples belong to a genus of deciduous trees with a wide range of small and large trees, many can handle full sunny positions and others need more protection from the scorching summer sun in Australia.  Some have very finely dissected leaves and appear to be fragile, whilst others have large maple shaped leaves like those on the Canadian flag.  They are tolerant of a wide range of soils and are extremely tolerant of cold and frosty conditions.
Pruning is not regularly required and usually shaping of a young tree is all that is needed.  Right now it is late winter and many plants are showing signs of new growth.  This is the time when many fruit trees are pruned but resist the urge to prune your maple in late winter.  The reason being they bleed considerable amounts of sap from each cut.
Heres an example of what happens when you prune your maple in late winter.  This is my tree and I needed to relocate it to make way for a new gate.  In its new position the shape was not quite right.

Do not be alarmed with the sap flow.  However make sure the cut is clean from sharp secateurs and not flush  against the stem or trunk.  All cuts should be made above the collar and angled away from the junction will allow the tree to heal.
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Spotted pardalote- an interesting little visitor to my garden

While doing my latest garden, I was lucky to have many visitors. Investigating just who the little fellas are I realised they have moved into my wall and dug a little nest.  The nest entry appears like a small round tunnel dug directly into a dirt wall.

Well I intend to be careful around the nest and let nature take its course.  Hopefully I will observe little babies soon.

winter flowering plants

I love plants and I think they are the champions or the star performers of our gardens like ornaments and sculptures they add that special personal touch. They can stamp a garden that in many respects says this garden belongs in a particular geographic region. Or does it? Many plants can live in different climates and different countries they just need the right conditions to thrive this could be called a micro climate situation. Where the growing environment is altered slightly to benefit and extend the range of plants that can be grown in situ. This means the plant will flower at different times in the growing season compared to the same plants growing in a different region. This I find is an interesting and rewarding benefit of a garden that is designed to maximise the growing environment for tender plants. I am keen to find situations and techniques people have used to allow tender plants to grow in regions where it is not considered possible. You're welcome to leave any related comments. Below is a collection of photos of plants in flower in Canberra, Australia for the end of May into June. I will be adding to this collection on a regular basis. Please check back at another time.

Your new garden could be spectacular

Ever wondered why you love being outside in a garden.  Is it ever just one thing that makes the experience memorable and enjoyable?    Many elements of the outdoors  play important roles in  making the outdoor garden an enjoyable place to relax.

I believe many of us take the experience of being outside for granted, or rather we know what is not nice.  However I think at times we struggle how to improve our outdoor spaces.  There is always a flood of new products that come onto the market at the beginning of each season.  Taking account of the new releases can help but you still need to put everything together in a tasteful manner.  My tips include the following:

1. create an ideas file these include photos, sketches or wish list. For example you might want a vertical garden http://www.verticalgardenpatrickblanc.com/ for something different
2. get to know the latest product releases for plants and new  hard landscaping features like pre cast pavers and blocks or perhaps water features and ponds.  http://trade-winds.be/product.php?id=39&la=enhttp://trade-winds.be/product.php?id=39&la=en
3. Go and see a designer to plan how you could pull together your ideas into a solution.  The key is to have a plan be imaginative and willing to give it all a go.

After doing this process you will see many options and usually just how much can be achieved is controlled by your budget.  A rough idea on how much you want to spend is important.  A flexible approach and desire to achieve will always yield a beautiful outdoor space.

The value of a new livable outdoor space is not recognised immediately in monetary terms but rather in the surprising amount of use and joy it will provide.  As soon as a new garden is created it begins to repay its value to you and as the plants begin to mature it continues to add joy!!