RU roses planted & other stuff...

jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Our Roses Unlimited roses came this morning so I soaked them in water for awhile to kill any insects etc... Later this afternoon I planted them so that is done...

We have not been getting the amount of rain we usually get this time of year... Every year I had to cover our soil about 1 week before our roses arrived or the soil would be sloppy wet... This year everything is dry as a bone! Scary!

Anyhow here's our new roses:

Prairie Harvest (yellowish/white)

Earthsong (pink)

Easy Does It (orange)

Featured Answer

strawchicago z5

8 years ago

Your roses look great, I like the colors of Easy does it and Earth Song. Prairie Harvest has nice foliage. How do they smell to you? Your garden is so nice & neat, you take really good care of your lawn. My grafted pink Peace has 3 blooms, it's nice to get blooms early by buying roses at the store.

Comments (34)

jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Here's Easy Does it in its new home...

If you look carefully I have tiny Marigold seedlings planted...lol

Around that cement block are Morning Glory plants coming up...
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jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
When I opened that RU rose box wow those scents hit my nose...lol... They smell great Straw!

Yes the only blooms we have are new RU rose blooms...lol
strawchicago z5
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Wow! your roses are big, and so many blooms. I love Roses Unlimited own-root. Can't wait until their sale in June, 1/2 price at $10 for Austin rose, and $8 for regular roses. Heirloom Roses, Oregon's 1/2 price sale end of July is too late, a few of those died since wimpy bands planted late don't survive my zone 5a winter.
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
Original Author
8 years ago
1/2 price sale sounds great Straw! :-)
strawchicago z5
8 years ago
Thank you for those close-up pics ... I wish I could smell them. We have tons of rain here. Sometimes it rained all-month in April, the rain came late this month.
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
Original Author
8 years ago
"Easy Does it" bloom colors are much lighter coming from South Carolina weather... They should be a darker orange here...

2 pics of our first Easy Does it can be seen here: I'm jim1961....

http://www.helpmefind.com/gardening/l.php?l=2.58853&tab=36&qn=6&qc=0

We have not had much rain this Spring and everything is really dry Straw... First time this has happened for many years...
strawchicago z5
8 years ago
Wow !!! I love your darker pic. in HMF. Compost really helps to darken the color. We are in a wet spell now, lots of dandelions on the lawn. I'll put vinegar in their roots .. hopefully that works.
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
Original Author
8 years ago
We just now have a few dandelions popping up... I think we have some rain coming next week which will probably explode the dandelion population... :-/
strawchicago z5
8 years ago
My neighbor doesn't do anything to her lawn .. and her lawn is 3/4 dandelions, and 1/4 grass. It's really ugly-looking, plus the seeds got blown into my lawn. I can do organic if she takes care of her lawn, but I have no choice but to use ALL methods possible to keep dandelions off.

I try to solve the question of why my roses are 100% clean the entire spring plus summer, then they black-spot in September. I suspect depletion of nutrients, since the years which I mulched with horse manure & alfalfa right before Sept., my roses were clean in late Oct.

Below is the best link I have found so far in understanding nutrients:

http://thebestgardening.com/plant-nutrition-needs-and-deficiencies/

An excerpt from above link: "

The primary macro-nutrients:  (4) nitrogen, (5) phosphorus, and (6) potassium.

The secondary macro-nutrients: (7) sulfur, (8) calcium, and (9) magnesium

The micro-nutrients: (10) iron, (11) zinc, (12) manganese, (13) copper, (14) boron, (15) chlorine, (16) molybdenum, and (17) nickel."

While looking over a government document on plant nutrients, I found the statement "plants in acidic soil are often deficient in macro-nutrients, versus plants in alkaline soil deficient in micro-nutrients." Composted horse manure are high in trace elements, thus help in preventing fungal diseases in roses.
strawchicago z5
8 years ago
I put chicken-manure right after the ground freezes (right after Thanksgiving) as recommended by U. of Illinois Extension. I don't fertilize in spring, to avoid aphids-infestation. I had done that for the past 2 years, and zero fungal diseases in spring & early summer. Here's an excerpt from below link of how chicken-manure is enriched with anti-fungal minerals:

http://www.soilminerals.com/compost_manure_humus.htm

" Whatever the motivations, most manure from commercial livestock operations contains trace minerals added to chicken feed. Zinc, Copper, and Boron are growth stimulants for plants, too. Unfortunately, that manure may also be loaded with drugs, antibiotics, hormones, and other chemicals such as dewormers, disinfectants, pesticides, herbicides, and GMOs.

**The feedlots, and confinement dairies, must give the cattle antibiotics because they are fattening them on grain, seeds, and soy, which are unnatural foods for cattle. Cattle are naturally grazers, eating grass and herbs and occasionally leaves from shrubs and trees. They have a huge population of microbes (mainly protozoans) in their stomachs to break down the cellulose in these plants and turn them into food. These microbes are not happy with grains, so the feedlot operators give antibiotics to kill off the normal microbes, and also give the cattle bicarbonate of soda to deal with the resulting acid indigestion. Large feedlots buy baking soda by the carload and antibiotics by the ton. Another unfortunate aspect of this unnatural feeding is that it changes the fatty acid profile of the milk and meat so that the fats cause atherosclerosis and heart disease and other problems in people who consume them and in the cattle. Grass fed beef and dairy do not cause health problems, they confer health on those who consume them. Much more on grass fed beef and dairy at www.westonaprice.org
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Great info Straw!

I have not fertilized at all except for putting down compost last october and we still have aphids...lol... But they do little damage here so far....

I discovered something very weird this past week... Ok first let me say I've found the best time to transplant roses here is in March before leaf out...

But most of the time I end up transplanting roses in hotter weather for one reason or another. Anyhow I was always taught to water well a day or two before transplanting then after transplanting then water well for so many days afterwards in hot weather... So I've done that but everytime the leaves turn yellow and all fall off the rose bush...

Well last year I got to thinking after I transplanted my sisters rose and did the water, water, water, thing again and I noticed leaves turning yellow etc. right away yet again... so I stopped watering and the rest of the leaves actually stopped turning yellow and became more perky... So I got to thinking....

Anyhow 6 days ago I decided to test out my theory... I needed to move another rose bush because for whatever reason I got the spacing wrong yet again...lol... This rose bush has been in the ground for 2 years now... Anyhow it was 85 degrees 6 days ago and I transplanted the rose bush to its correct position and its been in the 80's and hot ever since I transplanted... I watered well two days before and then watered again after moving the rose and of course I started seeing the usual wilting of the tips and leaves of the rose bush even with all that watering... (During the hottest parts of the day I placed a chair over the rose for some shade) but I've done that everytime I transplanted any rose bush in the past. BUT this time I did NOT water that rose bush again after that first day... For 2 days it looked very wilted BUT the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th days that the temps have been in the 80's it looks like I never even moved it.... The rose bush is perky again even though the heat! I'm amazed! So here using LESS water is KEY for our soil and transplanting...

I just looked at the rose bush today and it still looking real good... I always thought leaves turning yellow and falling off the rose bush after transplanting was just its normal process... Well NOT anymore! lol

Adding to much water is what causes the leaves to yellow and fall off here... 86 degrees today and the transplanted rose bush still looks real good...
strawchicago z5
8 years ago
Hi Jim: Agree with you on that, roses don't like it soaking wet. Shading a transplanted rose is a great idea. I have been posting in Health-forum since both I and my daughter have eczema & allergies, and she's down with depression. I took her to the doctor yesterday, lots of tests are done. It's a windy day, and my hay fever is pretty bad. Here's my most recent thread in health-forum. I learn lots from other posters just by googling topics in Houzz, such as "fish oil", "eczema", "depression". People are quite honest in Gardenweb, versus Amazon faked reviews rigged to GET people to buy stuff.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2814083/itchy-skin-eczema?n=28

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2391588/what-has-fish-oil-omega-3-done-for-you?n=26
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
Original Author
8 years ago
Great threads Straw!

I have noticed that there is so many younger children with depression these days...
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
Original Author
8 years ago

We took our dog Gracie (which once was my sisters dog) to the final resting place of my sister on Sunday... Sunday was 1 year since my sister passed away and of course Mothers Day....

We left some Balloons go for my sister also...
strawchicago z5
8 years ago
Hi Jim: Your photography is excellent. The last picture is cheerful, as a reminder that your sister & her dog are in heaven. Gracie is a cutie !! I got poked by an old rose cane this morning while pulling weeds. Tons of weeds in my garden. We don't get mulch until we plant the tomato, which is end of May. I'm going to get more Black Krim & yellow tomato ... those are really sweet in stews. I'm going to get less cherry tomato, I can't freeze those, although folks do make spaghetti sauce with sweet cherry tomato .. but they have to strain the skins out.
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
Original Author
8 years ago
Gracie was my sisters dog but we have her now....

Hope you recover from being poked Straw! Weeds are a pain for sure... Yes almost time to plant tomato. We are only planting one tomato plant this year. Good luck with all the tomato plants your growing this year! May they produce & produce...lol
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Temps dipping to 37 degrees tonight... Clear night so might get some patchy frost. I covered our new just planted RU roses just in case...lol

In the ground Marigold & Morning Glory seedlings will be on there own...

Today: Thursday

(Well when I got up this morning at 6:50am it was 37 degrees with some patchy frost but all our plants look ok so far... I had the new roses I just planted covered...)
strawchicago z5
8 years ago
Hi Jim: What happened to your sisters' other dogs ... did they die, or they were given away? There's an old lady here who walked with her dogs, plus one dog in a baby carriage. I thought she was pushing a baby, but it was a dog in a baby-stroller, plus a few dogs on leashes !! Then that old lady died, and all the neighbors miss her. We all have an impact on one another.

It's freezing cold last night. But will be up to 80's this weekend. I'm buying tomato-plants this Sat. at Meijers. My Mom always plant veggies AFTER Mother's day AND when the temp is up to 80's. I learn the hard way that roses don't do well in raised-bed through my zone 5a (they freeze and dry out). So I'll put more tomato in raised beds. Certain Austin roses do well in dryness, such as Crown Princess Magareta .. so I'll research on drought-tolerant roses when Roses Unlimited have the 1/2 sale in June. Drought-tolerant roses can handle raised bed in cold weather better.
strawchicago z5
8 years ago
Hi Jim: Forget to tell you that I enjoy the pics. of your bush with white flowers, so spring-fresh .. I love that glowing pink color of your Earth Song rose.
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks Straw! I don't care much for raised beds...

My sister had two dogs Straw... My sister wanted us to have Gracie and another person got her second dog Bing.... One of Angelas best friends had a dog that passed away and Bing was the spliting image of there deceased pet so Angela gave her Bing right before Angela passed away...
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
Original Author
8 years ago
I have already seen the beginning of rose slug damage on some of our roses... We have two types of rose slugs here. The common rose slug which is here right now. And the curled rose slug whom will show up later and these guys really can munch as they grow up to 3/4" long...

And I see more and more Aphids appearing... Those things are like rabbits...lol

Anyhow I'll be buying and planting Marigolds today... The guy at the greenhouse where I get them is alittle behind this year so hopefully he has them ready today. I like to see them blooming so I can make sure I get the ones I want....
strawchicago z5
8 years ago
Hi Jim: It's colder this year, my iris are late in blooming. Tons of rain here ... weeklong wet weather. Only two of my roses have aphids: they are the ones with the most fertilizer & most acidic soil (made acidic by being previously occupied by a dead rose). Golden Celebration & William Shakespeare roses are in the WETTEST spot & not much sun ... but these 2 don't have any aphids. It's in a more alkaline & mineral-rich area.

Mineral-rich clay soil helps tissue to be thicker & more resistant to insect-invasion. I had seen how putting vinegar in tap water MADE LEAVES thinner, so when the soil is acidic, plus high nitrogen-fertilizer ... the new growth is softer and more tender & makes it easy for insects to feast.
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Mostly dry here we did have alittle rain today but not much...

No fertilizer at all used here but still Aphids on every rose bush... But we do have acid soil at 6.5 PH...

Ok I planted 20 Marigolds today and 20 blue petunias.... I need 6 more Marigolds because that cold night recently killed some of my Marigold seedlings...

We will have a total of about 40+ Marigolds around our yard and house...lol

I seen this lost fellow on Thomas Affleck tonight...
strawchicago z5
8 years ago
Cute caterpillar! Jim: Is that gritty lime on the ground? That reminds me of a rose-nursery guy (in Seattle) who limed his 900+ roses to "sweeten" the soil in early spring.
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
Original Author
8 years ago
Actually I put horse manure around Thomas Affleck then limed it a bit....

I took the caterpillar across the street and put him in a tree...
strawchicago z5
8 years ago
Sounds good, it will be a pretty butterfly soon. I planted at least 10 tomato plants today: 3 Cherokee purple, 2 Sweet 100 (cherry tomato), 2 Fire-rose ?? tomato (hydrid from Walmart), 1 Celebrity tomato, 2 sun-sugar (yellow cherry), 1 yellow-tomato. More rain tomorrow. I sniffed "intrigue" floribunda at Walmart today, it's was like a spicy perfume .. look good for $10. But at the rose park, Intrigue became a blackspot-mess after the 1st winter.
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Well seen leaves on Thomas Affleck today that were munched to death! Big bites! Found 3 more of those huge caterpillars on TA....

Can't wait until they are butterflies...lol

Tomorrow (Sunday) I'll have the Marigolds planted out front by TA...

There will be 24 Marigolds out front along with some pansies and some of that tall grass you can buy to plant... Nine (9) Marigolds at the side of the house... Twenty -one (21) Marigolds in the backyard... Total.... (54)...lol

Last few days I've been measuring & planting up a storm...lol

Glad to hear you got your tomato plants Straw! I planted one Celebrity Tomato and that's it...

Yes you don't need any BS ridden roses in your yard Straw...
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Ok all flowers are finally planted Straw! LOL

We really love Earthsongs blooms! I really hope Earthsong does well here! That RU Rose Bush only has 1 bloom right now but everyone that see's it has very positive comments on the color etc... It kind of glows...

Found two of those huge caterpillars on my sisters rose just alittle bit ago... So far I found 5 of those munching buggers... I watched one eat and it ate half of a small leaf in about 9-10 minutes... :-O

I looked at our roses this morning and only found a few aphids so they may of left for whatever reason... I watched aphid videos on youtube and was shocked at the amount of aphids some people get on there roses... Wow!

From what I saw on the videos made me realize we only get very light infestations of aphids here on our roses....lol

I fed our small birds around here in the winter months and I noticed a week ago they were landing on our roses eating aphids...

Thomas Affleck Rose Bush in the middle...

Even though I think the pic above looks better I moved the Marigold pots so they are alittle closer to the rose bush...
strawchicago z5
8 years ago
Hi Jim: Thanks for a nice tour of your garden. Everything is so neat and organized. I need to go out and pull weeds in my garden. Your lawn looks fantastic. My neighbor's lawn is ungodly messy ... more dandelions than grass !! I have to spend $100 per year just to fertilize my lawn, otherwise dandelions explode in our alkaline clay soil. Scott's weed & feed works well against dandelions since it has sulfur & acids to bring down the pH ... but that stuff is $53 for a big bag. We go through 2 big bags a year just to fix our soil so dandelions can't thrive. Will post pics. of my garden later when roses bloom.
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Thanks Straw! Yes post pics later when your garden is in bloom... :-)

We had tons of dandelions years ago but not so much anymore but who knows what the future brings... $100 is alot for fertilizer gee hope you figure something out with that...

Our roses will probably start blooming within the next 7-10 days...
cecily
8 years ago
Excuse me for butting into a private conversation. Jim, please google "gypsy moth caterpillar" : I think you're aiding and abetting the enemy. Thanks.
strawchicago z5
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Hi Cecily: thank you for the info. You are welcomed to join us ... so are others. About lawn care: I checked Scott's weed & feed ingredients, it has a bunch of acids to kill dandelions, plus sulfur. I use that expensive stuff for my pH 7.7 lawn, plus using cheap vinegar to pour into the root of dandelions. When we have a wet spring ... tons of dandelions I found 2 leaves with black spots on GRAFTED Pink Peace rose that I bought. However, my 40+ own-root roses have zero black spots, some of them were badly damaged by my zone 5a winter (with tiny roots), so I uprooted them to a better location, yet, they are still healthier than the big-root GRAFTED Pink-Peace rose.

Also I notice the GRAFTED Pink-Peace rose has more thorns than the OWN-ROOT Pink-Peace I had before ... My own-root Pink peace was really healthy, but it died on a raised bed over the winter. I learn my lesson to plant roses at least 1 foot away from the edge of raised bed, that way they won't dry out and die through my zone 5a winter, when it gets down to -20 below zero.
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Cecily, many years ago we had gypsy moths so bad in our area they ate EVERY tree in a 20 mile radius! So crop dusting planes had to drop insecticides... But I can't remember what they looked like so I will look that up... Thanks!

I haven't seen anymore besides the 5 previous ones...

And I removed my Marigold post because for whatever reason I could not smell the new Marigolds yesterday but today they have a stronger familar scent...lol... So I would say my nose was the problem...lol

Own root and grafted do seem different sometimes... Bloom sizes differ, etc...

After looking things up I think the catarpillar we have here is the Eastern Tent Caterpillar...

http://na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/pest_al/etc/etc.htm

http://www2.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef423.asp

I walked to neighbors yard 150ft away and they have these caterpillars in there Apple Tree (Cacoons)