Episode: #10 4/11/06
Presenter: Paul Hoffman

Roses are recognised world wide for the amazing flowers and heavenly scented perfume. In Queensland however, roses need a little extra TLC to keep them looking their best.

At Marist College in Brisbane, the excellent display of roses is testament to the idea that a bit of TLC can produce great results.

Paul dropped in on an old mate, to check out his secret for success. Regular watering is getting tougher at this time of year with water restrictions. The main problem in the Brisbane area is the humidity and the fungus that it stimulates like black spot and powdery mildew. In school situation it is not a good idea to have toxic stuff around so the roses get sprayed every three weeks or so.

Another tip, make sure you keep up the dead heading in the flowering season and you will be rewarded with a great show of blooms.

Roses are heavy feeder which is expected if you want to have heaps of good looking flowers. Roses produce a flush of flower 3 times a year, during Spring, Summer and Autumn but will also spot flower on and off through out the year.

Roses require a good fertiliser program, to keep up with their big appetite for nutrients. So a fertiliser like Thrive Rose Food is ideal, it has all the elements your roses need. This should be applied after pruning and during the main flower seasons.

Apply 2 good hand fulls, about 200g around the bases and lightly trowel in, don?t forget to water in the fertiliser. Then apply good mulch when you have finished which will really set then off.

Also their roots are very close to the surface so be very careful when spraying any weedicide around the base of your roses

Use Dynamic Lifter Pellets to help improve the health and vitality of your soil and gently feed your roses and almost any garden plant.

If you would like help solving any of your garden problems then jump on the web and join our on line garden club.

Featured Products
Marist College Ashgrove,
Moola Rd
Brisbane QLD

Thrive Granular Rose Food:

• Specifically developed granular fertiliser for feeding established garden rose bushes.
• Fast acting granular rose food.
• Contains nitrogen for foliage and potassium for rose blooms and to combat pests and disease.

Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food:

• This is a versatile feed for all garden, potted and Australian native plants.
• Slow release nutrients improving structure and retention of the soil.
• It also encourages earthworms and is beneficial to soil micro-organisms