Autumn Rose Gardening

 Hello all Manassas area gardeners!

 Do you have a garden or looking to grow one? Let's garden together!

My new blog, ''Gardening with Julia'' will cover everything from flower gardens to vegetable gardens to landscaping and even garden-grown recipes that I love.

Each week or so, I'll present time-relevant tips to what you might want to be doing in your garden based on local weather  and planting schedules and share with you what I am doing in mine.

I'm sure that we'll have lots of fun and grow more gorgeous gardens together. 

September 30, 2011

Autumn is officially upon us.  And, while the temperatures outside are still reminiscent of summer, the weather forecast predicts more autumn-like weather within the next two weeks. With that in mind, what will you be planting in your fall garden?

Fall is a lovely time of year.  The Old Town Manassas Fall Jubilee will be this weekend. Fall  foliage coupled with chillier evenings that are perfect for a cup of hot cider are sure to follow.  Autumn is indeed a magic time to spend in the outdoors before the long winter sets-in. One of my favorite activities this time of year, like most of the rest of the year is spending time in my garden. Often, I find myself more occupied in my garden this time of year then during spring or summer enjoying the cooler, less humid weather.

I am a firm believer in year-round gardening. There is no reason for flower and other decorative gardens to have ''dead spots'' in one season and not the other (winter in this part of the country excluded.)

In autumn, my garden is as alive and colorful as it is in spring and summer but now with colors that reflect autumn's bold  rich tapestry.    Autumn is known for it's  vibrant earth tone colors such as mauves, oranges, reds, yellows, and even rust colors.   The same forward-looking  approach  in summer that makes this happen  in autumn is also  required in autumn in preparation for spring.           

In addition to mums,  goldenrods, snapdragons autumn crocuses, Michaelmas daisy's, chrysanthemums and Thanksgiving cactus,  a variety of seasonal vegetables also appear this time of year.  What would autumn be without  pumpkins, squash, and even eggplant?      

This time of year is not just about the glorious autumn harvest. It is also about planting.  As a rose connoisseur ,  much of my fall planting is in my rose gardens.

 I am a big fan of what is known as ’’own-rooted roses.’’

 The biggest advantage of  own-rooted roses over grafted ones is there resistance to below freezing temperatures possessing an ability to  survive harsh winters.

Not to mention less work is required to maintain the  health of this type of  rose bush.

Another advantage , that shouldn’t go without mentioning, of this method of rooting is that you can design your own rose bush after the colors of your preference.

I like to put two or three different types of rose cuttings together to create a single new rose bush as an unique focal point in my garden.

By combining these different rose types, I’ll have an amazing rose bush that  continues to bloom in different colors, often one after the other from around the start of May to the first hard freeze.

Here’s how you get started:

-          Dig a hole

-          Allow water to fill the whole for about 5 minutes

-          Prepare your  rose trimmings

-          I recommend that you dip the base of your trimmings into a rooting hormone

-          Stir the dirt in the hole until it becomes muddy

-          With a stick, make a small hole for each of the rose trimmings

-          Being sure to plant your future roses with love and tender care!

-          Fill the whole with  potting soil and some sand if you have it on hand

Now, here’s come part two!:  (optional)

-I recommend using a  2 liter plastic bottle to increase your chances of the rose bush taking root. Although this may not be the most ascetic thing to do the results come spring will more then compensate for the minor eye sore during the winter months.

- With a knife or scissors cut off the bottom of the bottle, discarding it altogether

-Place the bottle over the rose stems, being sure to remove  the bottle cap

-Fill-up the bottle with water

- Let is sit like that for a minute or two

-Then place the cap back on the bottle

-Give a good push to the bottle to make sure it is well entered into the ground

and then.....

Congratulations you’re all done! Be sure to water well your new trimmings, at least once  a week if it doesn’t rain.

A little secret: consider planting tulip bulbs around the future rose bush or more precisely, if using plastic bottles, around the bottles themselves. This will also help hide to mask those bottles come Spring time.

Speaking of roses and the importance of trimming them back, I don't discard my beautiful rose petals when doing so. Instead I create a wonderful ointment, that's all natural -- rose vinegar

Doctors from ancient times were right when they wrote that the rose is an universal, natural medicine.

To make this special vinegar you’ll use whole rose pedals that are rich in aroma.  My preferences are ‘’Double Delight,’’ Sissy’’ and ‘’Mr. Lincoln’’ but just about any rose species will do.  You should collect the rose pedals in the morning.

Rose Vinegar is one such example of a rose-recipe with a very pleasant aroma  and highly therapeutic values.  It’s easy to prepare at home with a quality bottle of wine vinegar or apple vinegar to which you will add  rose pedals.  It’s a fast acting remedy for migraines, fevers, colds and flues, sunstroke, or for someone who has fainted.

I hope I have given you a few ideas of how to spend this first weekend in October in your garden.  A gardeners work is never done..and that’s  perhaps the best part of being a gardener!

 So get out their and enjoy your garden and autumn’s rich bounty, and until next time, Happy Gardening!

I want to hear from you! Post pictures of your garden on this blog page, ask your gardening questions and share your gardening advice.