Skip to main content

Featured

Winter Rose Care & Pruning

Although major rose pruning is not done until late February into early March, there are a few things I do to get roses settled in for the winter. First, I wait until the first frost has occurred before I do anything. That happened on December 1 this year, a little later than normal. If you do any pruning prior to that, new growth will be encouraged, and it will just be nipped later. I will then do minimal pruning, about 1/3 of the plant or to about waist-high. It does not matter how you make the cuts. More precise pruning will be done in late winter. Giving roses a slight pruning at this time will decrease the damage from strong winter winds. Roses are not deeply rooted, and any long canes can spell trouble. Pick off any remaining leaves, if possible. I know that can be a big job if there are still many leaves left on the plant but you don't want leaves, especially diseased leaves, left to fall and harbor spores for next season. Clean the area around the base of the rose. Rake out ...

Napping under maples



Someone once expressed a lack of appreciation for Japanese Maples to garden writer Elizabeth Lawrence to which she replied, "Then you have never crawled underneath one on an October day."

Try this sometime - I think she has a valid point.

Comments

  1. Hey Phillip...pretty maple!

    You've got a blogspot crazy word wrap thing around your photo. Happens to me all the time and drives me a bit nutty trying to fix it without publishing it 10 times to see how it really looks (preview is terrible, isn't it).

    If you put the html code for a line break before and after your photo it should fix it. That would be a
    used the same way, before and after.

    Hope this helps.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Of course, it took out my html code for the line break when I put it in my comment!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks Cameron, let me see if I can fix that!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love Japanese maples, mostly for the leaves, shape and color. Since they seem to be a favorite of Japanese beetles, I don't grow them. My loss, I know.
    Marnie

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful! Thanks...I really wanted to read what you had to say, too. :-)

    Cheers,
    Cameron

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love staring upwards into trees. This would be the perfect spot for a hammock!
    Best ,
    Philip

    ReplyDelete
  7. The colors you have been posting are fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful! If scares me that Marnie says that Japanese beetles eat Japanese Maples. We have both, but fortunately the beetles must prefer other snacks.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I simply adore the J. maples. Can't believe anyone would not appreciate them.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love Japanese maples, too, and your photos are gorgeous. But lying on the ground in October in Virginia?--umm, I'm guessing someone in your household might share my views on that idea. I think dragging out the tarp, the yoga mats and the umbrellas might kind of spoil the moment. Kidding--you've really captured the magic of looking up into trees.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love your photography! Would you mind sharing what your equipment is?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks Louise. I have a Nikon D50 with various lenses. I also use Photoshop to tweak color, contrast, etc.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts