Hello TGibson, Sulfite,is that Sulfur?If it is Sulfur,a yellowish powder or granule,it can be put on about once a year,about a couple tablespoons per plant,mixed gently into the soil surface.It may take about that long to see results though,as the microbes change it to Sulfuric acid. It is a good idea to see what the actual soil pH is,by way of a soil test or an accurate meter. It will probably make a difference to pull the berries off the first couple of years,so that the plant can grow more in roots and leaves.Not so much fun on our part. Bumblebees are usually the most common pollinators of Blueberries and they will fly a good distance between plants. Strawberries also like an acid soil.I'm not sure about Raspberries. I also have a Pink Lemonade Blueberry plant,that I picked up early this Spring and it is growing like a weed.It only has a few berries though,which I'm eager to try. What is your soil amended with?I use Pine bark mulch and Moss Peat.About 70/30 mix. I'm going to close with the words that the man who welcomed me on this forum a little over a year ago, when I announced my intentions to grow them."Blueberries are the easiest things to grow until their not".Have fun and I hope they do really well. Brady

Frankly, if I were attempting to salvage that 17- or 18-yr-old 'Blue Ribbon', I would remove it immediately from its present location, do some serious root pruning on it if necessary, and plant it in a large container of fresh soil. Once rejuvenated, it could be replanted in a location where it would not be in such extreme competition for light and nutrients. I feel that container culture for ailing plants gives me much greater control, and gives the plant a better chance for recovery. It appears that an automatic watering device is incorporated into your beds. Be aware that container-grown roses demand more vigilance than those planted directly in the garden. Unless one provides an automatic drip system, containers require frequent monitoring to maintain proper moisture. Now here's what I'd like to do for the remaining roses in your foundation planting: Remove EVERY trace of grass/dichondra/oxalis; carefully hand-till the soil around and between the bushes -- deeply enough to break-up the top 4 to 6 inches of soil; add a generous layer of compost or rich top soil (working it in to the degree that you can), and then finish with a layer of mulch of some sort. Periodic application of fertilizer (especially now and early in the fall) is generally a very good idea. There's got to be a chapter of the American Rose Society in your area, & I'd guess that most ARS chapters in CA have members who are consulting rosarians. Perhaps one of them might consult with you via email or -- who knows -- maybe even in person. Also, if you succeed in resuscitating your 'Blue Ribbon' one of those local experts might advise you on how to propagate that rare rose so you'll always have one and a spare for your garden. I'll bet I'm not the only one on this forum who marvels at the fact that your roses are as old as they are, look as good as they do, appear to be disease-free and have been cared for by one who admittedly has paid very little attention to them until now. ;) We hope you have great success in rescuing all your roses! Here is a link that might be useful: Consulting Rosarians by Area

Now is not a good time to move a rose on Cape Cod. It is in the midst of its growing season and will be putting its energy into top growth not establishing roots. Are you certain that the problem is not enough sun? Right now roses on the Cape have been devastated by the winter moth and the other caterpillar that is devouring the new growth. I would guess that the rose is being badly damaged by these pests. Check the rose carefully and remove and destroy any caterpillars on the rose. Check every day for new ones and remove them. Give the rose lots of water; we have not had any rain in over a week and I noticed that all my roses are needing a good drink as I have been away for a week. Go to Country Garden or what ever garden center is close to you and buy fish emulsion with seaweed. Follow the directions on the label for feeding and give the rose a feeding every other week. Make sure you give it plenty of water. I have all my roses in pots in the shade because they don't dry out as fast and they are doing fine. I would wait to transplant the rose until the fall after it goes dormant or next April before it breaks dormancy. Make sure you dig a BIG hole and add an entire bag of composted cow manure or whatever you can get at the garden center to the hole along with a couple of cups of Rose Tone. Mix it well with the sandy soil in the hole and plant the rose. Good luck, Sandy in Barnstable Here is a link that might be useful: Cape Cod Heritage Roses

My grandfather fished every morning in the summer and crabbed in the afternoons when the tide came in. The heads and other parts always went into the tomato garden. We had great tomatoes. I would help him clean the fish we caught. Nothing was wasted. Even the clam shells were tossed onto our gravel road. Grandma tossed her dishwater on the hydrangea and rose bushes after meals. Those plants were ginormous. Now I spend $22/gallon for fish emulsion. I am grown now and no longer live on an island in the sea, so I guess this makes do. I bought a pellet gun and shoot rabbits. I toss at least one a week into the compost pile and turn it over. This is some sort of payback, returning a small portion of what they took from me when they were alive. I may stop doing this because decomposing animals really stink.