How NOT to Prune Roses

So the Forsythia is in bloom. That means it's time to prune your roses.

When we bought our house it came with 18 rose bushes.

I hate pruning roses. So now we have just one rose. And I've tried to dig it up three times. It keeps surviving. So for the moment I have decided to stop fighting it and let it live as a trellis rose. It is not in a place that allows for a bush. And if I were to really dig up more of the root system I'd have to remove some of the sod.

I should have taking a picture before I asked my son to prune it. I'm just trying to teach him to work and I thought since I don't like this rose anyway, it won't matter what he does to it. The rose had gotten out of control and was at least 10 feet high is some parts. I needed the forward reaching shoots cut out and all of it trimmed down to fence height.

FENCE height.

This is what it looks like now.

However, with the wind that blew in this morning, this rose is now actually MORE than fence height. Guess the boy knows more than I thought.

I soiled my plants...

Sorry. Couldn't resist that headline.

A long time ago a friend recommended I sprinkle Black Gold potting soil on my flowerbeds. I should have listened to her. My groundcovers have struggled to spread and take hold in the lousy soil I have. Today I sprinkled a ton of gypsum on the beds, and then covered it over with a sprinkling of Black Gold. The gypsum will loose the hard clay soil, and the Black Gold will help hold in some moisture. I expect some rain this weekend to help it all settle in. We'll see how it goes.

Also, I got some seeds planted in the garden. It's time to get the Spring Garden in--spinach, lettuce, peas, radishes, onions, broccoli, cabbage, and carrots (though carrots will do better in the fall). If you plant broccoli and cauliflower, make sure it is an "early" variety--ready for harvest in 45-55 days. Otherwise, it will be hot weather before it is ready and it will be bitter and bolt to seed.

AND...drum roll... my son has decided to enter the world of gardening. His science teacher challenged some students to grow giant vegetables. So he's going to try his hand at some huge tomatoes and huge beets. He's even keeping a logbook like a good gardener. So proud!

Look what I found!

On a whim, I googled my favorite bell pepper.

http://www.reimerseeds.com/mandarin-sweet-peppers.aspx

JOY! About 60 seconds and $14.75 later, they are being expedited to my house.

They'd better grow!

Tomatoes, Fruit Trees, and Berries, oh my!

Sorry! I'm a little behind! It's time to start germinating your tomato seeds. You can plant them in the garden April 15 with hotcaps. Alternatively, you can start shopping for tomato plants and hoard them until you plant them outdoors. I like to get them early before all the good varieties are gone. Gotta make sure and get my Sun Sugars! HINT: don't be tempted to pay extra for a larger, more mature plant. They won't adjust to transplanting as well. By the time they recover, they'll look about the same size as the smaller ones transplanted at the same time.

Also, fertilize your strawberries and raspberries with a water soluble fertiziler. 
1 part each ammonium sulfate, Miracle Gro Azalea food, and Ironite.

Apply 1 cup per 50 square feet.

Spray fruit trees with dormant oil spray in the early to mid spring before the first signs of budding appears. No other spraying while the trees are in bloom (not to disturb the bees from pollinating). After the blooms fade and fall, spray with Imidan (2 tsp/gallon). Spray every 17 days. And I do mean 17 days and not 18. Mark the calendar and do it no matter what. You’re supposed to spray until 30 days before harvest.

We'll be busy this weekend!