Friday, March 21, 2008

WAR OF THE ROSES

BEFORE

When I became interested in Gardening- O.K. obsessed might be a better word-
I read many articles and books about pruning rose bushes. I have about 40 in my yard and wanted to become an "expert" on the pruning thereof.

I used to practically take a sextant and compass into the garden with me and I would study each cane and precisely cut each one a certain way. It would take me days to do just the rose bushes in my spring clean-up. Low and behold people would see me taking such care and ask my advise, which I would freely give them--mistakenly thinking I actually knew something.

One year about 18 years ago I offered to prune my mothers rose bushes because my Daddy had pruned them in the past and just wacked them off all the same height and in my wisdom I thought they deserved the same care that I was giving mine. Mind you I was questioning my wonderful Dad who came from 6 generations of farmers and had pruned his 55 acre farm by himself most of his life.

He generously turned the job over to me (he was so busy he was probably glad I offered). Fast forward to a couple of years after Dad passed away. I was in a hurry and didn't have much time and decided to give Dad's approach a try.

Worked great, roses never looked better and I could accomplish in 1/2 day what had taken me several days in the past. Sorry Dad for questioning you. Should have taken your advise from the beginning----once again. The rose bushes on this post belong to mother-in-law's yard that we did last week.
AFTER

2 comments:

Ming the Merciless said...

I managed to drown my cactus plant from over watering. Plants run away from me when they see me coming.

andi said...

Oh - Oh! Come over to my house. Nothing has been pruned in two years. HELP! BTW - The rose bush you gave us for our wedding is doing great. It's all marco. I married a farmer with a PhD.