NEWLY PLANTED ROSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 September 1940, Page 2

NEWLY PLANTED ROSES

REQUIRE CLOSE ATTENTION. The care of newly planted rose bushes and climbers during the first few months is important, since they must be regarded as invalids and given every possible attention during the whole summer as regards watering and feeding. A mulch is very beneficial to prevent evaporation during hot, dry weather and appreciably lightens the task of watering. Probably the best material to use is old, well decayed manure, but any neutral subject, such as lawn mowings, may be used. Always apply after a thorough watering has been given and spread to a depth of two inches. Liquid manure, even of the mildest sort, should not be given in the first year, as the newly-formed roots are not in a fit state to appreciate or assimilate it. The only exception is if the bushes are growing vigorously and the soil is known to be poor. With newly-planted roses, fertilisers of a forcing action, such as sulphate of ammonia, nitrate of soda or blood manures, are best avoided, though they may sometimes be given as a stimulant to well-established bushes before blooming. They may be useful also, later in the season, with trees put in in autumn or even in spring, when growth is vigorous and a crop of flowers hak been produced. GLADIOLI SOME USEFUL HINTS. Gladioli will take no harm if planting is delayed for a while in order that things which have really started to grow can be attended to first. Where it is intended to group gladioli in spaces between dwarfer perennials, the overhaul of the border may proceed and the positions for the gladioli be marked with sticks. Stored corms of these need to be overhauled to see that damp or disease has not injured them. Herein lies an excellent method of economising space and at the same time producing some very pleasing effects. Gladioli grow tall, but they are very straight and non-spreading and will stand out boldly between plants of dwarfer growth, but of bushy or spreading habit. Therefore, one may distribute their corms among comparatively small spaces which are bound to be left between these dwarfer plants, thus getting the additional charm of a goodly show of their flowers without having to give up a separate piece of ground to accommodate them. Gladioli can be planted sparsely between border carnations and also between geums. This association is agreeable to both, the gladioli making a show when the carnations and geums have eased up their display of bloom.