Good luck, Maria! I think your idea sounds great. I would probably plant this Spring because I couldn't wait. I'm sure others have great ideas. You are a brave woman.

Welcome back maria! I'm so sorry you had a rough couple years!! My goodnsss. Heres to a wonderful 2018 for you and your husband!

I think the manure sounds like a great idea. Are you in the same garden as before ?

im also very passionate about roses and find it hard to want many other plants unless they are companions. If I had the problems you had I may try to mix in roses with other substantial plants . I don't know anything about chili thrips but I do hope you get reprieve from them ! Sorry I have no real advice, just wanted to say hello and can't wait to hear more from you!

Same place..only other things lm putting in are day lilies , some dahlias and Clem’s

I can't advise either, I'm afraid, but just want to wish you well. Your spirit has obviously not been crushed by all those disasters!

I know some people who put fresh horse manure on existing roses. I don't know about putting it on new roots or bare roots that aren't established. I use rabbit manure and composted chicken or cow manures etc. The rabbit can go straight on and the others only take a few months to compost here in NE FL during the warm summer months. In the winter composting could take longer. You mentioned that your source has had the manure piled up for awhile. Maybe it is already partially composted? Hopefully lol.

I think your idea is a great idea as far as getting back to gardening. Gardening is so soothing to the soul and good exercise. I haven't had chili thrips here yet. Keeping my fingers crossed but I expect they will eventually get up here.

The good thing about starting over is, you have another opportunity to make your garden over the way that you want it using the knowledge and experience you gained from you last garden. New color schemes, layouts etc.

Good info on horse manure

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/long-wait-before-using-horse-manure-garden-71634.html

Info on manure from the American Rose Society

http://www.rose.org/rose-care-articles/its-not-just-a-bunch-of-manure-a-look-at-natural-fertilizers/

Info from gardenweb

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/can-i-use-horse-manure-to-feed-roses-dsvw-vd~1708766[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/can-i-use-horse-manure-to-feed-roses-dsvw-vd~1708766)

~Sjn

Maria,

Keep at your garden projects. Your success will match your indomitable spirit, and inspire us, especially me.

I wish I could advise you on the correct use of your horse manure. I put down a heavy feeding of pigeon (just like chicken), manure every November around Thanksgiving, saved all year until put down then. Much of it is well composted, being up to a year old, and 93.28% odorless...ha!ha! so I tell myself! It feeds the roses wonderfully until July. Then its potency wanes (roses are heavy feeders), so I liquid feed every two weeks thereafter until September. Simple as pie.

Someone in the know will give you correct advice. You don't want to burn anything.

Moses

Maria,

See, Sultry Jasmine Nights to the rescue!

Moses

Don't feel I can give any advice or anything, Maria, since you are in Florida, which is such a different climate, etc from mine, but I do want to send you the heartiest and best wishes imaginable for a great come-back, and for many, many,MANY happy years ahead in the future of peaceful, healthy, energetic gardening.

Thanks SJN. and thanks everyone for the good wishes.

Welcome back Maria!

Looks like a bit south of you (Miramar FL) but I feel your pain. I basically quit on my roses a few year back and started up again with gusto about four years ago. My take-away from the experience was that sometimes you have to treat roses like annuals and carry lower expectations. From that period I did have several roses that survived the neglect and Chili Thrips damage and most of those are my huge bushes today.

My advice: take advantage of the season right now. I would not waste time waiting for the manure to compost, and, yes, you should be very cautious as you're likely to get the opposite effect from the manure if you plant roses with it before it has had time to break down. Find a source for good potting soil or a decent soil mix and get a few yards depending on the size of your project. You may want to go purchase a few roses for the new project. I suggest to make sure it's on Fortuniana. Where abouts do out live? Perhaps a trip to Nelson's Florida Roses or Cool Roses will suffice. I know if you buy in large numbers both vendors will often times give you a break in $.

Thank you for sharing and reminding us that when life gives you lemons, go out to your garden, cut up a few delicious blooms, and put those lemons in the vase where you put your cut roses for an eye catching display (lol).

Don't forget to keep us posted.

-Adrian.

Moses do you have pigeons? Where do you get pigeon manure? I recently saw chicken manure in bags at an Ace Hardware but never pigeon lol. Just curious :)

~Sjn