A grouping does look good. I'd plant them into the garden now so the roots can get established. Even the hardiest roses can die the first winter if the roots have not had an opportunity to grow into the surrounding soil. August is a really hot dry time to transplant a potted rose. Unless you water regularly and deep you could lose them especially if the soil falls from the roots when you transplant. Nature size and planting distance is determined by your growing zone. Pruning can be easy. After each flush of bloom, allow the flowers to fade some. Use a pair of hedge clippers and remove the dead blooms along with a inch or so of cane to shape the bush. In a few weeks new buds will form along with new growth. You'll have more flowers within a month. Yearly pruning should be done in spring. Remove winter killed canes and dieback along with any damaged ones. Cut back as far as you want to shape the bush and keep it in bounds. As much as many rosarians complain about Knock Out being the only roses available in many garden centers, their ease of growing and hardiness encourages many to grow roses again. The desire to grow roses soon entices them to try other varieties.

Oh Wow, I just love login in here and learning more about daylilies. I have just this year started growing a few. I am so greatful to get good advice and tips for which ones do really well. I've added Geminia Jack, Wisest of Wizards, and Pretty Gaudy to my list of wants. It's funny because I don't think I've seen one that I didn't want (grin). I got it bad and I can tell there's no turning back. I do need to know what to use when fertilizing and how often do you apply it? Like I said, this is my first year to grow daylilies and I thought I heard somewhere years ago that you were not suppose to fertilize daylilies. While reading these post someone mentioned fertilizer but they didn't say what kind, how much or when to apply. Can someone help me out with that information? Thanks for sharing all the wonderful information and photos of your daylilies. Happy Gardening! Marian

I just looked at your lovely Garden Web home page. My house is about the same size as yours! And I too have been filling it with more and more flowers. My lawn in front is disappearing as I continue to expand the garden. Have you been out to the Peconic Herb Farm yet? Don't let the name throw you...this is truly one of THE gems on Long Island and is by no means limited to herbs. A fellow gardener has been telling me about this place for years and I kept putting off a visit. I finally got out there this September and it was one of those defining gardening moments where you think you've died and gone to gardening heaven. I caught the end of season sale and purchased a HUGE New Dawn climbing rose and two GIGANTIC rudbekias. My name is on their mailing list and I cannot wait for them to open again in the Spring. Visiting is a lovely experience...they're right on the river and have wonderful display gardens. And as if the terrific stock and display gardens aren't enough...the staff is wonderful! One more thing about buying from VE or John Scheepers; while I think they have the best prices, they only sell in the Fall. If you get a hankering for some more Lilies come Spring, you'll have to go to one of the other superb vendors. You'll get a ton of references here from the other posters. My recommendations would include Brent and Becky's and The Lily Garden. Happy gardening! Ciao, OITGAD Here is a link that might be useful: Peconic Herb Farm

Hi Deanna, I'm a hosta newbie, actually. Of the 60 or so hostas I have, I've purchased all but 3 of them since May of this year. I do have about 10 years of general gardening experience...I've lived in Colorado for 7 years now, and in my opinion, Colorado is a great place to grow plants, generally speaking. July temps average a high of 88*F, and August is 86*F, really not so bad...of course last year, and especially this year have been MUCH HOTTER than that!! The Denver area only gets 8-15" of precipitation a year, so the rainfall really doesn't sustain much in the way of flora. Luckily, we haven't seen any water restrictions in the area since we moved here. Plants will dessicate and burn more quickly here than in most areas, and I've fried a few hostas this summer. That is a lesson you learn quickly, and don't tend to forget.(The hostas I had before this year have always been in bright shade, but never in any direct sun, and I never experimented with em, unlike now)! Didn't lose any, though, and they'll be pretty again next spring. So really, no huge challenges here with regards to growing hostas. Unless we get hit with water rationing. THEN I'll be able to post about the challenge of keeping hostas going here. BUT until then.... Regards, Don B. Westminster, CO.