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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 ...
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The Virtual Garden Tour

'Climbing Pinkie' rose and
Japanese Maple 'Geisha Gone Wild'
Our HPSO (Hardy Plant Society of Oregon) Open Garden Tour scheduled for tomorrow is cancelled so they are encouraging us to do a virtual tour. I am still experimenting with making a video and may try to do that this weekend. Of course, I have many photos to share.

One of the hardest things about agreeing to be on the tour was choosing a date. After scouring through photos from past years and comparing dates, I finally chose the last weekend of May. I think it is a good time to see the garden.

Of course, predicting the weather is impossible. Alas, it turns out that tomorrow's forecast is less than ideal for a tour. After 3 days in the 80s, the high tomorrow is 63 and rain is forecast.

We are also scheduled to participate in the Clark County Natural Garden Tour in late July but from what I am hearing, that too will be cancelled. Hopefully we will be around to do it next year and let's hope the social crisis is over. This particular tour is a good educational opportunity and the gardens featured are those that practice organic methods and don't use chemicals.

May is just spectacular here in Washington state. The peonies are almost over and the roses are lovely. We have many of those so that was one of the reasons I chose late May. The month of June is also quite wonderful.

This is the rambler rose 'Phyllis Bide' on the right side of the arch. 'Eden' is on the left.




'Cornelia'













The Pan Garden - you will catch glimpses of the new wall that we finally managed to finish. It almost killed us! I will post more on that later.




In the front -

'Lady of Shallot' rose with 'Eskimo Sunset' maple, dappled willow and smoke tree



'Dublin Bay' on the front gate



'Celestial Shadow' Dogwood with Spirea 'Ogon', Barberry 'Orange Rocket',
Wallflowers and Orange Poppy


Right outside the living room

'Coral Cove' rose, 'Bloodgood' Japanese Maple  and Gingko 'Princetown Sentry'


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. chavlinessMay 30, 2020 at 8:53 AM

    Thunder and lighting in Seattle this morning, but since the open garden is cancelled anyway... Your garden is magnificent; a sight to behold. Love both your Dogwood; the new purple wall (reminiscent of the Alabama garden); the fountain which I don't remember you posting about before; the blooming arc... stunning. You'd better try again next year. Visitors will love it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverMay 30, 2020 at 11:02 AM

      Thanks, I may not have mentioned the fountain. It was just a little basin we got at Little Baja (they called it a "bonsai bowl"). We like it and it was just what I wanted for that area.

      Delete
  2. danger gardenMay 30, 2020 at 9:43 AM

    WOW! When was the bloggers swap there? That's the last time I saw your garden and so much has changed. It looks fabulous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverMay 30, 2020 at 11:01 AM

      Loree, I had to look it up and it was 2017? I am amazed at how things have grown.

      Delete
  3. http://whatsitgarden.blogspot.comMay 30, 2020 at 4:56 PM

    I was thinking the same thing , what Lori said ! It really is so FULL ! Really lovely . I'll have to come and visit ...some day ?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lisa at GreenbowMay 31, 2020 at 2:31 AM

    That first photo is just stunning. I love the wall. It is like your signature on a glorious colorful painting. So much to see. The stairway to heaven is really inviting too. I wonder what your neighbors think about all this??? They are probably feeling very inadequate. ;) Love the touch of whimsy the rubber duckies give to a space that is so warm and controlled.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AaronJune 1, 2020 at 11:24 AM

    You've created a real paradise!

    And that blue wall?! wow.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Endah MurniyatiJune 1, 2020 at 8:38 PM

    Oh... The roses are so lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hoover BooJune 3, 2020 at 12:21 PM

    You have transformed your place from mundane to magic.

    ReplyDelete
  8. John MooreyJune 8, 2020 at 11:25 PM

    Nice!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Barbara H.July 4, 2020 at 4:08 PM

    LOL, anyone who didn't know you and your gardening prowess would find it hard to believe what wasn't here when you started. It's an amazing transformation - almost makes me wish I was back in the Pacific NW to see it in person, but then again it probably wouldn't be possible in these days. It's beyond lovely, Phillip.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousFebruary 15, 2024 at 6:34 AM

    it looks like a great garden

    ReplyDelete

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