I grow lots of roses in pots. We have a deck where they can be enjoyed better up close. Over the years, I find it essential to pay attention to the following details: 1. Watering. Inconsistent watering is probably a container rose's worse enemy. I have a dripper system with a timer - I can set the timer to water once every few days, or a few times a day. Over the hottest days of summer, it's at least 3 times a day of watering. 2. Feeding - it's true, with all that watering, fertiliser leaches out quickly. My container roses get an application of slow release pellets (3 month) in the spring. The conditions in containers invariably mean that even the control release pellets doesn't last three months - I give it a second application after the first flush. The dripper irrigation system is hooked up to a siphoning system which adds a weak dilution of soluble fertiliser into the water - I get this system started once they are at the peak of blooms. 3. Drainage and aeration. Which invariably means repotting once every two years for containers less than 5 gallons, and 3 yearly for containers 5 gallons or larger. 4. Keeping the roots cool. I suspect that this is a bigger problem than we think. I have documented soil temperatures as high as 40-50 degrees C in pots exposed to late morning sun. A pot-in-pot system seems to be effective in keeping the media cool. 5. Keeping the size of the roses appropriate for the size of the containers. For me, the limiting factor is the size of the containers. Large containers are too heavy and cumbersome to be lugging them up and down the stairs. I any case, I worry that I may overdo it and overload the deck to beyond it's engineered weight capacity. So, I am mindful of keeping the plants from outgrowing their containers by careful pruning. For the same reason, I select the roses carefully. Most of them are miniatures (which seem to thrive better in containers where they don't have to compete with other plants for sunlight and sustenance), the smaller HT's and shrubs. What the above adds up to is that it needs a lot more work than planting the roses in the ground, and often for less blooms. But if you need your roses up close, then, nothing beats having them in containers. One more thing I have learnt is that the mortality rates in container grown roses is much higher than those in the ground. So, I treat them as "throwaway" plants. I.e., I won't grow the only specimen of my most treasured rose in a container - it will get a spot in the garden ASAP. But I accept having to replace the container roses on a regular basis. I don't shed any tears on the miniatures - they are cheap, and there are so many varieties that it's fun to try new ones on a regular basis. Other roses are usually rooted off what I have in the garden. I usually have several rooted "copies" of my favourite container roses on standby to replace sick, dying or dead one's.

I have found mixed reviews within the effectiveness of chemical logs . Personally I would go with Bays recommendations . Proper wood stove usage is the key . All flue pipe should be sized and run properly with the least restriction to flow as possible. Next only seasoned wood should be used and damper use to ensure at least 300 F Stack temps. Follow these and your creosote issue will be negligent and cleaning nominal . I use the old secret method of Potato Skins once a mth . Once your coals are red hot mix in some skins (two cups) and open the damper wide . Let the coals and skins burn down and out . This Seasonal Trade Secret has been tried and proven for decades here in the Great White North for Yrs. However the best policy is as Bay and I have stressed previously good wood and proper damper usage .

You bet ark! I don't plan to do much gardening in this area as I know its almost impossible with sugar maples but they color so well in there area! Hey ken, Good points...there is a bit of a moat created with the soil. Not to the degree I want. I think I'm going to bring in more soil. See that dirt pile back there? That is the top 18" of top soil from the lot next door. Builder said I can take as I please. I've been going to town on it. I did trench the bed in the front yard (may have seen the pics of the Katsura and Ginkgo). I have yet to trench and connect the some/most of the circles. I likely use roundup right at the edge of the mulch and grasss. Then mow low and smoother the rest. Trenching as usual for the edge. It just seems to be my preference at this point. I'll get some more pics up in about a week or so. So many trees have tree barely leafed. You've been quite instrumental in many of my tree and conifer selectons as well.

i just sowed lathyrus matucana " " chocolate streamer sweet pea " " vernus rainbow mix heliotrope marine carnation cascading clove drops snapdragon cascadia my last ones died- but i did them inside adlumia fungosa climing bleeding heart has to be in the fridge thunbergia fragrans sweet clock vine ummmm can ya tell that i like fragrance?? the only one's that arent fragrant i got as bonus's!! LOL i did see that on another site i really do want the trailing carnations!! they have some kinda black thingi in them!! WOA BABE!!!! so later if someone wants to trade something for them!! i so want to!! LOL i right now have sweet william!! they are so great smelling and garlic chives and very fresh!! LOL HEE HEE HEE YES an addict!!! LOL ~MEDO (ummmm better than being an addict to other things though!! YES???) **big grinn**