You might know some of this already, seysonn, but the super simple approach to fertilizing would be to premix up to 1 tbsp of controlled release fertilizer (Dynamite All Purpose Select, for example) per gallon of potting mix and then to apply a soluble fertilizer (Dyna-Gro Foliage Pro, for exampe) at every watering. In general, aim to provide the soluble fertilizer at label rate weekly (so if the recommended rate is 1 tsp per gallon you'd simply divide that by the number of waterings per week). The CRF provides a steady source of nutrients throughout the growing season (which is especially valuable in prolonged wet weather when you don't need to water), and the soluble fertilizer gives you some control over growth rates. If you want to slow down vegetative growth, for example, you can reduce or withhold the soluble fertilizer (or you can alter the NPK ratio with a supplementary product like Pro-TeKt, which can accomplish the same thing). This post was edited by shazaam on Sat, Nov 9, 13 at 10:50

Time to put down a pre-emergent iswhen the forsythia bloom. The AI in most pre-emergents will preclude overseeding for up to 120 days. Spray-on weed killers like Weed B Gone by Ortho are better alternatives than granulars like Weed and Feed by Scotts. Read the instruction on whatever product you choose for proper application and advisories regarding overseeding. When applying early Spring fertilizer, keep the total monthly N application to less than one pound per thousand square feet form all sources (Milorganite, Weed and Feed, pre-emergent etc.)

I was pruning again today. Still have plenty more to do but the whole bed along the side of the house is done. It was still chilly this morning, a crust of ice was on the birdbath water. I waited until afternoon and it warmed up. The spring pruning is lots of work because I have lots of HTs and those of course need lots of pruning. But I prune down everything including my Floribundas and shrub roses. Doesn't make much difference on HTs, they just grow tall no matter what but on the Floribundas and shrub roses it does encourage them to grow nice and thick and twiggy instead of tall and lanky. Most of the HTs are on Dr Huey but I did order some roses two years ago that were grafted on Multifloria. I noticed that they grew much slower than the ones grafted on Dr Huey. So I did not cut them back quite as much. Also, this is a very unscientic observation but the ones on Multiflora have no canker and did not really NEED to be cut back while the HTs on Dr Huey always have lots of canker canes and need a strong prunning in the spring. As they are all treated all the same and planted in the same beds I do not know what else it could be but rootstock.

Deb, I might not have the correct e-mail info posted anymore... I am one of those people who doesn't check it anyway unless I am expecting something.. The address is amwaitz@peoplepc.com. It is strange about your sister, especially since Calhan has a city population of roughly 800 souls! (I don't actaully count as one of them, since I live outside the city limits.) I would love to chat sometime! So far, I have bought... Dallas Star Prester John Red Rum (Has just started to put up a scape or two) Good Impression Pandora's Box (also has a scape or two started) Lady Georgia Prarie Blue Eyes Hyperion Lullaby Baby (scapes became rabbit food) Persian Market Leebea Orange Crush Buttered Popcorn Red Volunteer Lavender Vista Streaker Royal Palace Prince (planted today) Siloam Little Fairy (Planted today) Happy Returns (also planted today) and Prarie Blossoms (planted today again) I have gotten Chicago Arnie's Choice, Dainty Eyes and Chorus Line as bonuses. I started by getting collections from Oakes to save a little money while getting restarted with everything. I think it might be getting time to sweet talk my hubby into getting a more expensive one (or two!) If I had unlimited financial resources, starting over would be fun... It still is fun, but frustrating, too. Sharon, in a strange way, I am glad I was noticed at all in the first place! I wonder if we both didn't try to start a little too early with the spring planting. The more recent plants that I have planted are the better looking ones here, too. I was out watering earlier and I found some new scapes on a couple of the first batch I planted, so maybe things are starting to look up here. Monica