General Discussion & Chat: Best/Worse/What did I learn today? Pt.29 Visit with Friends, 1 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
Liz,

Oh my! That was fast!!!! I just mailed them out on the 24th!

Your Camellia is beautiful! In the Conservatory's Spring show they had several camellias--all in full bloom. many were pink--some were really big and double.

Betty,

I have NO secrets! I only follow basic care for these plants. There are a few things people do sometimes that is a no-no.

For Clematis--
it is important to know WHEN to cut it back. Many people just look at all the dead branches this time of year and cut the whole thing back to the ground. DON"T! From those 'dead branches" will grow all the leaves that will become the vine for the next season. There are 3 different "classes" of Clematis-=-1--2--3. Knowing which one you have is important as those numbers will dictate WHEN you are supposed to cut it back. Most of them are class #2, which means that you wait until Spring and see where the uppermost new growth is (those little bunches of leaves). Then you may cut back anything above that.
Also--Clematis likes it's top in full sun but it's roots cool and shaded. Many people plant a bushy perennial in front of the root area to shade it. Also--feed your Clematis as you would bulbs--with Bulb Food or Bone meal.
When you get a newly purchased Clematis in a pot, plant it so the crown is 2" deeper that it was in the pot. Nice loose, fertile soil.....Mulch lightly. Provide a tall trellis for it to climb.

Roses!!! Oh my goodness!! There is so much to know!
I only have Tea Roses (No floribundas or bush roses), and for the Teas, you have to feed them once a month with Rose Food of some kind. The Systemic kind is good as it will prevent sucking insects from making a meal of your plants and flowers. That is sold everywhere! Along with the first feeding of the season (when you notice the new growth), and ONLY the first month--scatter a big hand full of Epsom Salts around each bush. This promotes new canes at the base. Water roses regularly too. DO NOT feed roses (at least here) after August! August should be your last feeding. Too much new growth going into the winter is not good.

In the Spring, clean your rose beds of any fallen leaves from last year. Remove the old mulch and apply new. In out area Roses suffer from "Black Spot" which is a Fungus. If you have this in your area, an early spring spraying with Lime Sulfur is recommended.

Correct pruning is essential! If you have the "Teas", Trim the Rose bush back by a good half in the Spring--but be selective WHERE you prune on the canes. By that I mean--ALWAYS make a slanted cut about 1/4" above an OUTWARD facing leaf bud, because it is from there that the new growth will come and Roses need to have good air circulation. So, an "open" structure is essential. Cut out any dead canes or any that criss-cross and rub against others.
Never, cut back a rose in the fall!!!! Allow the spent flowers to remain on the bush as this will signal the plant that it is time to go dormant.

Well--this should help you some, Betty. Are you guilty of any of the above no-no's?

I have another favorite Rose in my garden and that is "Proud Land". What a beautiful, tall stemmed red rose that is! Also among the older varieties.

Here's a picture of that!