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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 ...

Wildlife Botanical Garden


I made another visit to the Wildlife Botanical Garden in Brush Prairie, about 15 minutes from our house. We had visited earlier in 2018. Since that time, it was not surprising to see that things had really grown. I was looking over the photos from my earlier post and I didn't even see certain plants this time (for example, the Mimosa tree). 

Fall flowers, like rudbeckia and asters dominated -





Most of the plants were labeled but not all. I would like to know what this plant is - an aster I'm guessing but not sure which one.


Also, this beautiful pine.

Plants that I did recognize -

Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)

Abelia 'Frances Mason'

Bluebeard (Caryopteris)

Red Bark Dogwood (Cornus alba) 

Dwarf Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea 'Kelseyi)

Cockspur Hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli)

Hydrangea paniculata

Sweet Crabapple (Malus coronaria)

Persicaria but not sure which one it might be

Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum)

Scouler's Willow (Salix scouleriana) - Oh I wish I had room for this!
Japanese Anenome 'Honorine Jobert'




Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy




Comments

  1. What a wonderful place to have so close to home!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Just 15 minutes away, what a great place to have a walk. That pine is perfection!

    ReplyDelete

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