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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 ...

Spring keeps springing



Corylus avellana `Contorta', (Harry Lauder's Walking Stick)

After a week of warm temperatures, the weekend arrives and it is apparent that winter doesn't want to loosen its grip just yet. More rain last night, which brings the total to 2" this week, but worse this morning, a biting wind and temperatures in the 40s. I had a list of chores planned for today but mother nature would not cooperate. After stepping outside, I came right back in and changed into a warmer shirt and added a tee-shirt underneath. It was cold! Heading back out to get started on chore #1, it started raining. The garden was already soaking from the rains from last night and as I've mentioned in the past, I really dislike working in a wet garden. But as soon as the sun comes out for a few minutes, it gets dark and starts raining again.

I won't go into the other things that have went wrong today but they do involve almost running out of gas and my cell phone going dead. Oh yeah, today is the 13th isn't it?

I did get out later and take some photos but I felt like a bum the whole time with weeds everywhere and tons of unfinished chores staring me in the face.

The daffodils offer a promise of cheer and good things to come -



A camellia that was supposed to be "Sawada's Dream" but apparently it is not.





This spot in the lower garden behind the garage is a very fragrant one at the moment. First off, the Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) continues to get bigger and bigger and is a delight this time of year.

But there is another plant that even beats it in the fragrance department and it is a tenth the size of the winter honeysuckle. That would be Winter Daphne (Daphne odora). This little shrub is just amazing.



Here is a wider shot showing Magnolia "Little Gem" in the background. Just ignore the surrounding weeds.



And I leave you with this charming little viola which happens to be UNA's school colors.



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. You have so much blooming, I am jealous. It has been raining here all day. I am just glad it is not snow!

    Eileen

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  2. I have always loved the catkins on the Corylus, they remind be of tinsel. We are having the rains, but our temps have been in the 60's and a couple days this week in the low 70's. Windows are wide open.

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  3. The daphne is amazing. I had mezereum for years and just like it says in the books, it suddenly died... it did leave behind numerous seedlings which I'm hoping are ok after the winter. I'm headed out into this windy and cold wet day to check on things... will see if they are still doing ok, or if the rabbits finished them off. Beautiful photos. thanks! LC

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  4. Phillip, beautiful Spring blossoms! Our Corylus put on quite a show but the catkins are now browning and falling to the ground. Our mid to high 50's turned colder for several days, but it looks like warmer temps may be coming the first of the week, so we'll send some east. We have had quite the parade of color here and the fragrance on the north end (magnolia) and daphne on the south fills the air. Happy weekend. Diana

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  5. You have so much blooming now. Seeing those camillias blooming makes me wish I could grow them.
    A few daffs here are swelling. I know it won't be long now. Don't feel bad about having so much to do in the garden. We are all feeling the same way.

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  6. Well, at least the misnamed camellia is pretty!

    I love that area with the rustic pergola and red bistro furniture!

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  7. Well, at whatever pace it may be, I think that you're going to get much done in your garden. I know that YOU are your own worst critic when it comes to your garden. I'm sure it's not as bad as it seems and that you'll have ample opportunity to get all of your chores done before spring is full fledged. ;0)

    --Jamie

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  8. ...don't look at the weeds... that's like my mom used to say, "don't dare look behind the kitchen door!" your garden blooms are beautiful.

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  9. Love the stroll through the gardens. Thanks for sharing! That Daphne is a heart grabber. I am propagating about half a dozen right now. I had a bouquet on my dining room table and couldn't bear to part with it. Voila, all the stems are sprouting outdoors on my potting bench. Enough to share with gardening friends.

    Thanks again,

    Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

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  10. Weeds or no, unfinished chores or no, your garden is looking beautiful!

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  11. Phillip,
    Your garden abounds with signs of spring. The daphne and camellia are beautiful. And, I love the colors of the viola, similar to one I am starting from seed called 'Frosted Chocolate'. We are anticipating rain over the course of the next few days, which will be melting what little snow remains. I will be keeping my fingers crossed that we do not get any more snow, though we can never be certain until mid-April.

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  12. It IS frustrating not to be able to spend every available minute in the gardens now! But yours are stunning. Love that daphne -- I've been coveting it for years and finally bought one yesterday to plant in a new, morning-sun rock garden. I've heard they can be temperamental but yours is gorgeous and healthy-looking.

    This time of year nothing gives me more pleasure than strolling through the gardens in the morning to see what new foliage/blossoms have popped overnight ... as well as discovering that you've put up a new post!

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  13. Your Daphne looks wonderful. I need to try one, but I keep having visions of it withering away... however, I think I might have a good spot.

    I think the weeds flat-out taunt us this time of year.

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  14. Maybe that was winter's last hurrah!

    I love the header photo.

    Weather's forecast to pick up here from Tuesday onwards. Yay.

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  15. Springy indeed! I'm almost beside myself with anticipation

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  16. I know how you feel. When you work full time you want to spend every minute you can in the garden. It's always a bummer when weather won't cooperate! I did manage to get outside today and piddle around. That always helps.

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  17. Don't invite any gardeners over to see your daphne!

    Love all the blooms in your garden. I know the rain-sun-rain-sun is tiresome, but my plants have been growing inches taller everyday.

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  18. Your Harry Lauder's Walking Stick is wonderful. I had one years ago but constantly fought the suckers. Finally gave up. I like the way you mix classic with cottage styles in your garden.
    Marnie

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  19. But Phillip - at least cool weather makes you work like a sensible gardener...once it gets warm you'll do too much at once ;-]

    Growing a Harry Lauder's walking stick sounds like fun but someday I'd like to visit a non-alkaline place to see a daphne in bloom and smell the legendary fragrance.

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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  20. love these walking stick trees! great pic

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  21. I'm in love with your winter daphne! Must research and learn more about her! You just so inspire me.

    All this rain (with our canine friends) has be wanting to install pea gravel or something similar through much of the backyard, eliminating all of the grass and just doing shrubbery. If I just show your photos to my husband, maybe I can convince him!?

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  22. Those daphnes have been intriguing me the last few weeks, ever since I smelled one. Must check them out. I'm sorry you had such lousy weather right when you need the time in the garden. My yard has not dried out from this winter yet (mud boots still needed). Hopefully we'll get a week without rain soon.

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  23. Phillip~Your photos are splendid to see~The catkins are a delightful signal that winter is over for the trees...I so wish that my little tiny daphne would grow up to be as handsome as yours~it's just a yer old! Hope springs eternal~Now if spring would show up more in Nashville! gail

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  24. Nice! I just wish our stuff was blooming, we're still a couple days out unless we get some warm temps. I'm way tired of this messy weather. Misty rain, cold winds - not quite spring yet!

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  25. Phillip ~ your garden is definitely showing signs of Spring. I noticed last week that your area might be getting another touch of snow and as you said above "old man winter" is slow to leave.

    You have to love those hearty viola, because they do add some great color to a drab late winter.

    Many thanks for the great photographs....

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  26. Great its really fantastic, Yellows flowers are more beautiful Thank You

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  27. Beautiful!! I am so glad I discovered your blog!!

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  28. My winter daphne lost most of its leaves when we had our snow last month, but it is still blooming. I hope it will survive all the rain we are having. Yours is gorgeous! I also really like the Harry Lauder's walking stick. It's a shrub i don't have but would love to find a place for. Your garden is really coming alive. Happy spring!

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