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Re: Why is there so little mail?


> I've given up on the hybrid teas as they require more pampering in my
area
> than I can give them.  Black spot claimed every bush I ever had despite
> repeated sprayings and systemics.  

Hi, Val:

Same here with the Hybrid Teas.  I had over 100 in my postage stamp
backyard in New Orleans.  But when I move up here the problems spun out of 
control.  They're all gone, and I have nothing but OGR's, species, Shrubs
and Austin's.  Frankly, I've never been happier with my roses.


I've fallen in love with shrub roses,
> however.  They are the reliable heroes of my garden, but curiously
> overlooked by the people who stock our local garden centers.  

I lucked out.  The nearest nursery to me had an awful selection and I
talked my way into doing their ordering.  They were glad to have someone
else do it and the results have been great. And I get them all wholesale
for my trouble.  With a minimal amount of advertising, their clientel
shifted dramatically to serious rose types, so we all benefited.  I weasled
my way into a friendship with Hortico and now do import from Canada.  It's
worth it;  the selection is mind boggling.  I'm just glad I have 6.5 acres.

>(I am
> accepting suggestions from the list....)

Same here.  And I'll always be an amateur rosarian.  Only because I raise
so many other things....and belong to too many plant societies to
specialize!  Orchids (tropical and hardy), Iris, Daylilies, Alpines,
Hostas, on and on.

> I don't belong to any rose societies in my area, as I find that the talk
is
> almost exclusively about the hybrid roses and usually meetings are held
> during the day when I am at work.

Same problem with the local society, here.  And if it's not Teas, it's
minatures.  I like both, but I don't raise them.


> Enough rambling!  My original question was about a rose that a friend is
> going to let me have.  It seems to be a climber that isn't climbing up
> anything -- it just sits to the side of the house.  It is huge and has
very
> long canes.  It bloomed a beautiful pink and had a strong smell.  Do I
move
> it now?  Do I cut it back first?  What is the best way to do this so it
> won't die?  I've never transplanted a bush that wasn't from a garden
> center.  How can I be sure to get all of the roots?

Move it in the Spring.  Now, it would only heave in the Winter.  I prune
when the forsythia blooms.  It's easy to remember and sounds romantic.  Cut
back to whatever point is comfortable for you to handle.  Try to get as
many roots as possible, but don't make an issue out of it.  They transplant
very easily, and I've butchered many.  They've all survived.

Just remember what those things you get in the mail from Jackson & Perkins
or Wayside (as an example) look like.  And when I help the nursery pot up
the bare root stuff from Hortico, we prune the roots to match the cane
length.  Well, sort of.  Rules are made to be broken.

keith, zone 5, WNY
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