A Word on Roses....
- Roses have long been considered the world's favorite flower. Praised by ancient Greek poets, buried with the pharaohs in Egypt, glorified in Roman festivals, and celebrated in every way by other cultures of antiquity from the Persians to the Chinese, these beauties make a great addition to any garden.
- Why not consider adding them to your own yard? From the wild rose, the antique rose and the modern rose, there are countless varieties from which to choose. Visit your local garden center to learn about which types of roses are best for you.
Pruning and Transplanting Tips
Pruning is done for three reasons: sculpting for decoration, shaping for strength and/or weather resistance, and cutting to keep a plant healthy.
Pruning tips include:
- Never remove more than one-third of the wood each time you prune.
- Prune from the bottom up.
- Prune from the inside out.
- Make thinning cuts first, heading cuts last.
Transplanting Tips:
- Use only the healthiest seedlings. Discard any that have less-than-perfect roots, stems or leaves. Don't hold seedlings by their stems, which are fragile. Support the plant by holding the roots and the leaves.
- Gently place the tiny plants into prepared peat pots full of potting soil. Water the pots by placing them in a tray filled with room-temperature water after tamping the soil into place around the roots. Use no fertilizer at this point. As soon as the young plants show new growth, fertilize them weekly with one-quarter strength fish emulsion.
- Once the seedlings begin to grow and develop healthy leaves, you can move the peat pots directly into the garden. For warm-season annuals, wait until the soil has warmed in spring. The plants' roots will grow right through the peat pots.
