Is there any way you can just keep them in pots until September? In my experience,here in Italy,it is just so vastly better to plant roses out in the fall;they really struggle in the heat and drought of summer. In September, even if it's still hot and dry, at least the days are not so terribly long,and the sun is not so high, though putting it off until October might be best.If it was me, if I had the possibility,I'd either leave them in their nursery pots for now,let them bloom, and then ,if they seem too crowded in their present pots, move them into slightly larger ones for the rest of the summer. You can keep the pots in part shade if necessary. Or else, if they seem really root-bound and already too crowded in their present nursery pots, you could cut off the flower buds and transplant them immediately into the larger pots. Then, when the days are shorter, cooler and hopefully wetter, you can plant them out in the garden...bart

Yes, you can! Have you had a chance to read the "Read Me" thread? It gives directions on how to best seal counters that need it (from one of the stone pros that visits this site occasionally). But, before you seal it, find out if it needs to be sealed. In technical terms, any stone with an absorption rate of not need to be sealed (e.g., most Uba Tubas and most Absolute Blacks are too dense to seal). In fact, if you seal a stone that doesn't need it, you're asking for trouble later. If a stone does not need to be sealed, it means things are not absorbed...including sealer. The sealer will sit on top of the stone and eventually cause hazing and other issues. The sealer will need to be removed to "fix" the problem. Less technically, get a sample of your slab (not some sample they have just lying (laying?) around the shop). Pour some water on your stone sample and leave it for a few minutes. Then, wipe it up. Does it leave a dark spot? (It will eventually go away as the absorbed water evaporates.) If so, you probably do need to seal it. Also, when water splashes onto the stone, does it bead up? If so, it probably does not need to be sealed. Other tests to perform on your stone sample...the vinegar, red wine, etc. tests. If the stone is already installed, you don't want to stain it, so only do the water tests! The "Read Me" thread also has a link to a "Stone Advice" thread that has more information on what tests to perform on your stone sample. I wonder, though, if the $1,500 is for a "lifetime sealer"... The jury is out on whether these are truly "lifetime" and whether they're worth the extra $$. (Using Google or other search engine outside of GW, do a search for "granite" "lifetime" "sealer" and add "site:ths.gardenweb.com" to the criteria. It will find any current and older threads that discuss this topic.) Here is a link that might be useful: Read Me If You're New To GW Kitchens!

Yes...marble in a wet room needs sealing. There are many marble experts (stone experts are different from tile experts) who will tell you the marble needed to be sealed several times BEFORE it was installed, and then several times AFTER it is installed. And then sealants are used at regular intervals for a few years until the marble has been saturated with sealant and doesn't "need" it any more. Obviously the "before" install is no longer an option. No worries. You simply have to find the RIGHT stone sealer and apply it as many times as required. Then allow it to cure (could be a while before you use the shower) - and off you go. Keep reapplying as scheduled (by the sealant manufacturer) and enjoy your very pretty stone. Because this has been sourced/suggested by others (who deal with tile and not stone), I recommend you find some stone/granite professionals and start asking questions about your stone. After speaking with multiple professionals in your area, you should get a handle on what is needed and what is FORBIDDEN. Yes...there are plenty of things that are forbidden with marble. That knowledge is SUPER important. Hopefully Joseph or the Tile experts will pop in and offer some strong recommendations for sealant.

Hi, my contractor installed the white 2" hexagon carrara marble in my bathroom without pre sealing. He laid natural grey grount in the small toilet room and the white marble came out to be grey color. I think he made a mistake not to preseal the marble. He already installed about 100 SF of marble tiles in the bathroom area. the toilet room is small and I am about to ask him to remove it and redo. Can I still seal the rest of the marble before grouting? Thanks for your help.