Preparing for Winter V

jozbo

Thanks primrose
i had long covid until I got my first jab in March 2020, this feels just like long covid again. Either it’s that making a return or new covid infection. 

jozbo

March 21 I mean 

MingVase

Could somebody advise me on when to add manure to my roses? The problem is that I want to plant bulbs in where the roses are, and next spring I'd be disturbing them if I added manure. Will it be a waste of time and money if I do it now instead?

Primrose

Over the years I,ve become a great believer in ignoring gardening rules and just doing what most conveniently fits in with my own schedule.
You say you want to plant bulbs where your roses are.  Are you digging them up or planting the  bulbs around the existing plants..  Given that it's now bulb planting season for next spring blooming, I'd be inclined to get your bulbs planted first, whether the roses stay or go and then spread manure over the soils surface and let the rain wash it in rather than digging it in to avoid damaging any bulbs planted close to the surface.  Winter weather will give the manure a chance to break down and be absorbed into the soil ready for spring when everything is ready to come to life again.. We always empty our oldest compost bin in autumn and spread the contents over borders then. 

Shropshirelass

Ming, we have a long narrow bed along the garage. DH first planted a row of 5 bush roses, then I added crocus, narcisus, and allium. He fed his roses autumn and spring, with excellent results, gave them plenty bonemeal. Last April, beginning of lockdown, I planted 12 strawberry plants in the gaps. He  fed his roses as usual, and we had beautiful bulbs in spring, and then plenty of roses and strawberries. This year I supplied the neighbours and family with strawberries too (didn't feel like making jam). I thin out the strawberries end of summer by just pulling up the extra ones. You have to keep telling them how well they are doing (I mean the plants)

Shropshirelass

I agree with Primrose, do what suits you best, these plants do well in the wild, trodden on, blown about, fertilised whenever an animal gets near them. Only thing is to watch for frost. Good luck. What are you planting?

MingVase

Awesome help, ty both. I've got an espaliered apple tree that needs feeding before Spring. Around it in the border are roses. Under it is bare ground, which I want to plant with white bulbs, like white bluebells. But I need to feed the apple tree as well. I think manure on top once I've put the bulbs in is the best way.

nannygladys

I have planted winter cabbage (tundra) on the allotment, I did start them off a few weeks ago at home and it's winter tolerant and a dark leafed kale that's also winter tolerant, again started off at home. I'm going to plant some chard in the poly tunnel as last year it did really well. It's a good thing I like green veg. I also get my seeds from Premier seeds on line, they are cheap, quick and their information is good.

Nannyg

Primrose

If you're a Swiss Chard lover a really good variety I find is Fordhook Giant.  The green leaves are massive, winter hardy and you get a really good "bang for your buck"/

Laura_Elsewhere

MingVase said:

Could somebody advise me on when to add manure to my roses? The problem is that I want to plant bulbs in where the roses are, and next spring I'd be disturbing them if I added manure. Will it be a waste of time and money if I do it now instead?

I wouldn't dig anything deeply round roses- my Grandaddy taught me to use a small hand-fork just to loosen the surface inch or so round a rose each spring, and then scrabble in a bit of blood-fish-and-bonemeal or Growmore with your fingers, then water well, then add a thick layer of manure in a broad ring, avoiding the rose stem and covering an area approx as big as the rose's branches cover; a good inch or two minimum, several inches better.  Then water, but do it in short stints over a couple of hours, so that over the two hours about 10 litres goes on, and it all goes down, not running away on the surface. Finally, cover with a *thick* mulch of lawn-clippings or similar, at least 4 inches thick, in the same broad flat ring, again avoiding the stem. 
We did all his roses in my Easter holidays when I was a kid, and they were beautiful...