Southern Belle Magazine Digital #02 August 2013 | Page 31

This is a picture of my "Heaven on Earth" rose and it smells like it too! Last spring before my mother passed away she had become homebound. I knew she missed the flowers. In her day she was an avid gardener with an amazing collection of flowers in her yard. I began taking pictures of all the flowers with my phone to show her and I also brought her fresh bouquets to smell. I was able to bring her a lot of smiles in her last days. I miss my Mom and my "plant buddy" dearly. - Carol Young, Oklahoma

• When planting, choose a spot that gets at least 4-5 hours of sun. • Water frequently, but not heavily. • Mulch. Roses need less weeding and watering and have fewer diseases if there is 1-2 inches of organic mulch such as wood chips or pine needles. • Deadhead. Trim off spent roses to encourage more production. • Stop fertilizing in early fall, at least one month before your area’s first frost date. • Protect roses as needed for your region in late fall, after the first hard freeze. • Prune roses in late winter/early spring once the bush starts showing signs of new growth. • Cut out dead or damaged branches then cut out all but 4-5 healthy main stems. • Cut stems back by a third to a half, depending on how tall you’d like the bush to be.

Carol Young

Photo Submitted Dora Cromwell

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