The last several weeks here at Roses inc. have been very busy.  We have been weeding and getting the roses ready for you in October.  I say October because only those of you who can look at a rose bush and see what will be would appreciate what we have done to the roses.

After a Summer like we just had it amazes me that the bushes can return to beauty so quickly.  All they needed was a moderation in temperature and some water that didn't have salt[see: Salt with that water below] in it and they are growing again.

Check out each article in this months newsletter because they have the methods needed to make your roses bloom their best this fall.

Mark 

 

 Does your water come from a public supply?

 

Salts in our public water systems is a given.  Chlorine is a salt as well as Chloramine which is now being added to the Tulsa drinking water supply.  Even your water softener adds about 12.5mg of salt to your water per 8 ounces consumed.  Now is a good time for me to tell you that I am certainly NOT a water expert.  I have however pulled sick roses from the ground and pots to find high concentrations of salt in the earth.  How did I know that?  I could see salt accumulated in the soil and around the edges of the pots.

 

Most certainly after a Summer like we just had you have seen yellowing and burnt leaves that you can not explain.  In many cases these salts accumulated from hundreds of gallons of water being applied to the plants to keep them alive through the draught.  That is the bad news. 

 

There are many products on the market that can be used to leach the salt from the soil.  I do not sell any of them because test have shown that the best product for leaching salts from the soil is rainwater.  Now you understand why after a rain at the end of a long dry spell the roses seem to pop overnight.  That is the good news

 

My plan here at Roses inc is to put the rose watering system on a well in the coming year.  If you have the option of doing that with your yard, ornamentals and roses you should do the same.  You will see a difference in how everything looks after long stretches with not rain.

Earlier I stated that I am no water expert but if you would like the opportunity to hear one speak and answer your questions a great opportunity awaits.  Joan Arthur with the City of Tulsa will speak to the Tulsa Rose Society on October 14 at 2 p.m. at the Tulsa garden center.  Everyone is welcome. 

 

Look closely and you can see the dead and dinky that must be removed

Remember the 4 D's

 

Do you want a bunch of small blooms on mangles bushes or do you want large blooms on neat manicured plants?  If you vote for small and mangled do nothing.  If on the other hand you want big and neat here are a few tips to accomplish that.  Start by removing all of the Dead, Damaged, diseased and dinky canes and leaves.  Do not be afraid that you are removing too much.  Cut off anything crossing anything else and remember to cut to an outward facing leaf set or bud.  You remember how we did it in March?  This time is pretty close to that but be kind to any new growth coming from the bud union or crown.  A lot of what you see on the bushes is clumps of very small canes going nowhere.  If you look close you will see the growth bud at the end of the cane is dead and brown.  This growth should be removed. Be very brutal toward the dinky canes.

 

After the bush is pruned be sure to fertilizer it and spray for bugs and fungus.  The show that comes after that may not make you forget about the past Summer but it will sure make you glad you raise Roses. 

 

One more important thing, do this pruning NOW!  The bush will require 6 weeks to bloom on any new wood.

 

 Without the right soil conditions you can not expect to have a successful garden of any type.  The great thing about soil is that it is never to late to fix it.

 

Here in Tulsa County we have the answer man for all things soil and he will be speaking to the Tulsa Roses Society September 9.  Brian Jarvis from the Tulsa County University extension office will speak on soil and then be there to answer your specific questions.  The meeting starts at 2 p.m. and is open to the public.

 

This presentation will be of interest to all gardeners wether they grow grass or turnips,day lilies or the Queen of Flowers, the Rose.