Bare-Root Hellebore Purchases?
Cheryl_IL
21 years ago
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razorback33
20 years agoRelated Discussions
Would you pull bare roots out and replant? in ground a month-pix
Comments (12)Um ... not to knock the Master Gardeners on this forum. But, the Master Gardener program does not necessarily produce experts. People do learn a lot of useful stuff in the program, but no one knows everything, and nothing beats both training AND experience. The Master Gardener program produces knowledgeable amateur gardeners who are willing to share what they've been taught by Extension agents from land grant universities. They help to dispel the myriads of gardening myths and legends that have no scientific basis, but my own experience with master gardeners over the years has not been very impressive, as far as getting correct information on gardening problems. Hit and miss. Point being: just 'cause the person saying so is a Master Gardener, doesn't make it so. And even when something may be so 95% of the time, doesn't mean it's so in this specific instance in your specific garden. Nature is complex, and our brains are puny in comparison. "most fungi are species specific". I do not know what that means. Hm. Yes, fungi come in species, but I doubt that's what was meant. Was the person talking about saprophytic fungi, or pathogenic fungi? Saprophytes are not necessarily host species specific. Some are, but others don't care where the organic matter they're feeding on came from. Pathogenic fungi vary in their degree of host specificity. A few are very specific, having been found causing disease on only one or two species of host plants. Phytophthora lateralis comes to mind. Causes Port Orford cedar root rot. Others have host species numbering in the hundreds or even thousands, such as Phytophthora cinnamomi, a globally distributed agricultural and forestry pest. Armillaria mellea (oak root fungus, armillaria root rot) also attacks just about anything. A saprophytic and pathogenic fungus, but does not cause disease on everything it eats. Some species of hosts are more susceptible than others. Roses are very susceptible. There's been some speculation that so-called Rose Replant Disease is caused by saprophytic fungi breaking down the dead roots from the previous rose, creating a toxic environment, but it's just speculation so far. Another hypothesis is that the decaying roots of the previous rose put out toxic chemicals. Again, just speculation so far. Either one may be true sometimes, but neither one has so far been proven true to my knowledge. I often replant in the same hole, and only rarely have a problem doing so. My own experience (25 years worth) has been similar to Patricia's. If the previous rose died for some reason, and that reason is still there, then it will kill the next rose too. Armillaria root rot is common in California. Roses are very susceptible. Roses replanted where armillaria killed the previous rose will die pretty quickly. As in, within a year or two. Not within weeks. Patience, my friend! I'd be hesitant to move a bare root rose that's just starting to grow, especially this late in the SoCal spring. (Here, sure. We're still getting snow flurries up here, no danger of the rose drying out when its roots are disturbed.) You can also help it out by hilling it, or piling dirt up around it, to insulate the canes and new sprouts from drying out. A good practice whenever planting bare roots in your area, as your springs come on fast and hot and dry. Carefully remove the dirt once you see good strong new growth emerging....See MorePicking the best bare root hosta
Comments (10)Moccasinlanding: I have planted the two hostas in pots and will be leaving them in the house to grow. That should speed things up. Daily temperatures here are just above freezing and night times are just below freezing. It will be my first time "forcing" a hosta indoors. I actually have one hosta outside that has awakened. I noticed it just yesterday with one eye. Today a second eye is making its way out. The hosta is Wolverine. I have looked at the hosta library and there are beautiful specimens to view. Unfortunately no very young GM. But like you say, this forum has loads of pictures and I will do some searching so that I can make a comparison. I agree that we need to put our trust in the sellers. I had "heard" of the growers from which my bare root hostas came from, so I feel optimistic that I will have the correct hosta. (Nothing like last year when I bought a bag of hostas and none of them were what they were supposed to be!) Thanks moccasinlanding for your feedback! Thanks Paul (paul in mn) for the photo! Your Golden Meadows looks so lovely and fresh! I hope my one eye will look like that---then I will (almost) know for sure. Ken: "back in the day.. white oak had an old fridge.. or they called their sale .. a fridge sale ..." That's so cute---a fridge sale---never heard of anything like that. That 's very interesting about the plants coming from division or TC plugs. I think you are right about my bare root hostas probably being from TC plugs as I did not notice any cut area. "so its hard to define a bargain" That's so true, especially when it comes to plants. I thought I was getting a good deal---two bare root hostas that cost me less than one potted hosta from a hosta nursery. But if this hosta takes off slowly, then I think I may not have gotten a good deal after all. Time will tell. As for rambling on---you can ramble on with me any time you want! Thank you Phil (hostafreak) for your comments. I am glad you think the roots are good. Sieboldiana heritage---doesn't that mean slow grower? Oh dear....See MoreBare-rooted shrubs and trees
Comments (14)In my very limited experience of planting trees, bare root and potted, I can't say either is preferable to the other. All have grown satisfactorily, although potted trees in growth need more looking after. Pot grown may be for the convenience of year round selling; but also year round buying. We no longer have to spend the winter huddled round the fire reading catalogues, we can buy, and plant most of the year. We should distinguish between bare root from a garden centre, and freshly lifted from a growing nursery. The latter are great if you can get them, and only want to plant when they are dormant. Many bare root stocks in garden centres have been bare root for weeks or months, with little or no after care. The few roses I have bought potted have all been bare root plants that have only been in the pot a matter of months. For fruit trees, and shrubs, I would agree in preferring freshly lifted bare root stocks, but then we often prune heavily when planting to improve the structure or prevent or improve fruiting. Not necessarily the same treatment I would give many ornamental trees and shrubs, when we want to see what we are buying is a good shape, healthy, and hopefully true to type. Brian...See MoreBolero Rose, purchasing bare root vs at a fancy nursery
Comments (7)I am assuming that when you say it is a "bare root" plant at Home Depot, it's actually a body bag plant. These are not usually the best grade of roses to buy, and often inaccurately tagged as well. A good quality bare root plant from on of the rose nurseries usually grows very well. Container grown plants give you the immediate gratification of having growth and often buds and flowers. Given the choice of a body bag or container grown, I'd look for one in a container. I have a Bolero, or had. Not sure if it made it through the winter. It's a very pretty rose. My local HD had nice container grown ones last year, and I picked one up. Unfortunately, I never got around to planting it. It was looking okay until last week, not so good now. We shall see....See MorebruceNH
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