SOIL AND PLANTING

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 13, 9 April 1952, Page 3

SOIL AND PLANTING

(By

FLORA)

This week we are to discuss the question of preparing and maintaining the rose-bed. If you have ordered roses for delivery this year, do get on to this work immediately. The rose is a plant of character. It does not like to be crowded among other plants; but grows best ,in separate plots. An edging of some small plant, the viola for example may be used; but if you can be strong-minded enough, not to have even these — I think it is all to the good. As we all know, the Taupo soil • is particularly fertile; so we must add nutrients to bring up the level of its fertility to a stage where we can grow the roses; whieh under natural conditions, would not flourish to our satisfaction. With our light soil we have no need to think about drainage, it is 4 natural; but it is important to work the ground and manure it. Trenching to a depth of 2i feer is desirable. Rernove the soil and place on one side. If you have reached the hard pumice pan, found in some localities in Taupo, be sure to break it up. Turves are ideal for the bottom of the trench intermingled with wellrotted cow-manure. Stack-bcttom, is an even better base, but unfortvnately, this is hard ?o come by :u Taupo. Now return the soil that was set aside, and to this, add all the available compost till the required level is reached. If you have not got an adequate supply of compost, you may cover the bed with a layer of wel! rotted cow or sheep manure, after ten days or so dig this in, and add another, which later can be turned in. If the manure is at all fresh; be sure you start this operation several fnonths before planting time. It will be mid-winter when your plants arrive. Fresh manure would quickly burn the roots. Before planting an ounce of sulphate of magnesia per square yard may be sprinkled on. Planting. When the rose bushes arrive from your nurseryman, unwrap, and if the roots look at all dry place in a bucket of water for an hour. Roses Bke to be. firmly planted, and it is a good thing to tread the bottom of the hole; then put a little loose soil for the roots to rest on. Place plant in the middle of the hole, and spread the roots to their fullest extent. Put in a little fine earth and press or tread firmly. Continue till the hole is filled. Firm planting is essential. How deeply should the rose bush be planted? A ticklish question I think. in this soil, the point at whieh the rose was bedded, should be sunk just below |the surface. In the case of a standard the roots may be placed 6" lower. Allow at least twenty seven inches between the bushes. Another factor of importance to successful rose growing is the use of mulches. They are of great value to all rose gardens during summer; especially in a dry climate like our. The feeding roots of the roses are never far below the surface. It is essential therefore that the surface soil be kept cool and moist. Manurial mulches, well matured, are the best if they can be provided, as- every time the plants are watered they will receive a dilute liquid manure. Lawn clippings are good, if not put on too thickly. Their c'hief objection is that birds love to scratch through them; every morning most of your mulch will be found on the path. Although I use saw-dust as a mulch on other parts of the garden, you will find none on the rose-bed. Having not tried it out, can neither recommend nor condemn. If used, carefully observe these few points. (1) — Work bed before applying, and be sure that it is free of weeds. (2) — -Dress beds* with some nitroginous manure either before o r

shortly after putting on the sawdust, preferably use dry blood. (3) — The ground should be wet when saw-dust is applied. The best time is August. (4) — When the mulch has been on one year the beds should have an animal manure added, and the earth forked up into the saw-dust, before repeating the original procedure. However it is applied, roses must have humus and have it always, and the more there is in the soil the better will be the growth. Every year organic matter must be added to the soil to replace that used up by the plant. My final recommendation relates to the watering of roses; and this coneerns us more than those who garden in places where rain falls frequently during summer. I don't think you can give roses to$> much water during dry weather. The more they get the better they grow, the healthier the wood, and the more prolific the flowering.