Mumsy's Romantic Garden Advice

[Jessica Lynn]

My daughters really want to try the rose in the potato experiment!

 

[MumsyII]

I wonder if you could do it in a pot when you first start and the following spring break the potato from around the roots then plant in the ground?

Only way to know is by doing it or finding out the results from someone that already has. Rose roots are fragile. They snap off easily from cuttings. That's why I don't transplant them until I see roots coming out from the holes in the bottom of the pot. I transplant on cool over cast days and as quickly and gently as possible. I don't want my rose cuttings to know they've been transplanted. Transplant shock is to be avoided with roses.

 

[BlueMouse]

I'm so excited about this thread! We moved into our first house last november, on almost 4 acres. The property was scoured by a flood six months before we bought the house, ald all the existing landscaping destroyed as well as some of the shape of the yard changed. So, I'm starting with pretty much a clean slate. I'm in the idea process now. I wanted to live here, see how the sun fell over the seasons, then plan the layout of the gardens. I did ask the prior owners about locations for a vegetable garden and put that in. So this thread couldn't be more timely for me! Here's what I'm working with.

this was an old patio. it no longer made any sense because of changes in the shape of the land. was going to take it up to plant an herb garden. discovered that all pavers a minimum of 8" thick with 12" of gravel underneath. Decided instead to pick up some pavers and move them making this wheel shaped beds.I just filled in the space where the pavers were with dirt. It's planted with snapdragons, feverfew, yarrow, echinacea, dyers weld, and marshmallow. I want to get some hardy box to edge the outsides of the wheel but haven't been able to find any. I'm going to plant a huge rose or a fruit tree at the center. I have a rose from my mother's house to transplant next to the varigated wegielia (that giant bush. So glad I didn't dig it out like I wanted to at first). It's a morden centenial and grows extremely large. I have a spot there to put a little bench so I can sit out whith my spinning wheel and watch the kids play. The rudbeckia survived the flood, which makes me very happy. It's so cheerful.



The rambler on the chimney survived the flood. It has a profusion of tiny pink double blooms carried many to a cluster. It was all cramped onto a six foot trellis. some of the canes were almost 30 feet long. I untangled and put it on a new trellis. It's not sure it's happy but I think it will be happier next year. Other than that... Yeah. Not much. My mom has staked her pink climbing rose for me to plant next to the porch. Other than that? I have NO IDEA.



I laid this walk with the two short walls so I can get the wheelbaroow into the vegtable garden. nothing is blooming next to the path but that's actually daisies, rudbeckia, yarrow, and two dwarf apple trees (one on either side) an arkansas black and a yellow delicious. It's the only flower garden I've laid out at all. I also transplanted two roses that came up in the yard into this area. we'll see what they do. I've been weeding the crabgrass out of the cracks between the stones and piling it up in the center to die in the sun before i put it in the compost.... This fall the garden is getting enclosed in a stone wall.... I find I actually really enjoy stone work, and we have lots available for the hauling. It will also extend my growing season a bit, and i should be able to plant somewhat tender plants (ROSES!!!) in it's shelter. What mumsy said about creating micro environments for more tender plants


My husband wants me to convert the are beneath these big pines into a garden so that he doesn't have to mow over the roots. It will also creat a seperate "room" for the picnic table and his grill. Hostas and bleeding heart survived the flood. Hostas would survive the apocolypse I think. Too bad I'm not that fond of them... I was thinking of putting a hedge of elderberries across and then planting clumps of shade tolerants next to it on both sides. possibly european ginger for a groundcover? I've never gardened in this kind of shade before. the creek side gets morning sun, and the house side gets afternoon sun, but only a few hours sun on either side.



My mom did give me some extras from her garden this year. This was a peony. I'm hoping that although it looks rather dead it will come up from the roots next year. I wanted to plant them around the base of the power pole because even if the power guys have to work for some reason and trample them it won't do any permenant damage. Besides. who doesn't love peonies!


a volunteer rose next to some calendula. I have no idea what kind it is? It seems happy but has not bloomed. I'm not sure what the white flower is. It was growing in part of the yard that hadn't been mowed in some time... it has pretty silvery leaves and these tiny white blossoms, so I transplanted it.

Sorry I've dragged on forever here. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!! I'm taking copious notes from everything on here, it's great. I'm going to find the romantic gardening book on amazon too I've always wanted to have my very own "secret garden" that has to be one of the best childrens books of all time. I still love it. Can't wait until my kids are old enough to appreciate it.

 

[MumsyII]

I'm so excited about this thread! We moved into our first house last november, on almost 4 acres.



Sorry I've dragged on forever here. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!! I'm taking copious notes from everything on here, it's great. I'm going to find the romantic gardening book on amazon too I've always wanted to have my very own "secret garden" that has to be one of the best childrens books of all time. I still love it. Can't wait until my kids are old enough to appreciate it.

Thank you for finding me and enjoying what is posted here.
I love the pictures! You have so much to work with that is desirable already and you are being smart to get the 'bones' in and see what you've got. I'm excited for you too! Those rocks and pavers will come in so useful for do so many things. Love love love it! I'll study your pictures and see if I can help identify. Don't be hasty to remove anything is key with this property. Anything that could survive a flood has deserved a chance to make good of it's self. It will be an honor and a joy to help you through your journey.

 

[MumsyII]

All the talk about experimenting got me thinking about one of my own. Ants and ear wigs are fond of climbing up the trunks of trees. My orchard is in the middle of my chicken yard so anything I do is accessible by them. So I was thinking....What if I took a handful of those sticky fly papers and wrapped the trunk of my apple tree? Sounded like it could work so I did. I watched an earwig climb up to the sticky paper. Pause, and then go back down! Hah! Smart earwig!

 

[armorfirelady]

I wonder if you could do it in a pot when you first start and the following spring break the potato from around the roots then plant in the ground? 

Only way to know is by doing it or finding out the results from someone that already has. Rose roots are fragile. They snap off easily from cuttings. That's why I don't transplant them until I see roots coming out from the holes in the bottom of the pot. I transplant on cool over cast days and as quickly and gently as possible. I don't want my rose cuttings to know they've been transplanted. Transplant shock is to be avoided with roses.

I hope that you mean only for rosé cuttings. The roses I bought last week were pot bound and shaped like the the pot so I broke hem up before planting. I do it with all my plants I purchase so the roots grow out instead of being in the shape of the pot.


Blue mouse love your yard and your wheel design. That's very clever. I like your area by the creek as well. Sure wish I had something like that. Free swim area for the duck I would have

 

[MumsyII]

I hope that you mean only for rosé cuttings. The roses I bought last week were pot bound and shaped like the the pot so I broke hem up before planting. I do it with all my plants I purchase so the roots grow out instead of being in the shape of the pot.

Yes, it is rose cuttings that need the tender care. Pot bound roses need be be manipulated before planting. Bareroot roses should only have dead or broken roots pruned off before planting. Usually no matter what kind of rose, I am very careful with the roots. The more roots on these plants, the better. They get off to a better start quicker.

 

[BlueMouse]

My Mom has started roses for my by nicking a cane on the bottom, pinning it down to the ground, and covering it with dirt. the following spring she cuts it off from the main plant, and a few months later it's ready to move. Should these be treated as tenderly as rose cuttings or will they be rather more sturdy?

 

[MumsyII]

My Mom has started roses for my by nicking a cane on the bottom, pinning it down to the ground, and covering it with dirt. the following spring she cuts it off from the main plant, and a few months later it's ready to move. Should these be treated as tenderly as rose cuttings or will they be rather more sturdy?

Yes. This is sometimes called layering. How hardy it will be depends on how long it is left to grow and develop a strong root system. This method works for most shrubs. You can even nick a low growing branch of a Rhododendron, bury it and weight it with a rock or brick and it may produce a new plant in time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layering

 

[armorfirelady]

My Mom has started roses for my by nicking a cane on the bottom, pinning it down to the ground, and covering it with dirt. the following spring she cuts it off from the main plant, and a few months later it's ready to move. Should these be treated as tenderly as rose cuttings or will they be rather more sturdy? 

Yes. This is sometimes called layering. How hardy it will be depends on how long it is left to grow and develop a strong root system. This method works for most shrubs. You can even nick a low growing branch of a Rhododendron, bury it and weight it with a rock or brick  and it may produce a new plant in time. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layering

Wow thanks Mumsy for the link. I had never heard of this