It hardly seems possible, but some of the roses here in Portland, Oregon (aka the City of Roses) are already starting to leaf out…and it’s only February!
With spring right around the corner, the Portland Rose Society is holding free pruning events to answer questions about growing beautiful, healthy blooms and to demonstrate proper pruning techniques. One of these events is Saturday, February 21st from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Dennis’ 7 Dees SE Portland Garden Center (6025 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR 97206; more info at 503-777-7777). Bring a pair of hand pruners to be sharpened while you shop and a cup of garden soil from home for a simple pH test to discover what your plants will need perform their best.
Our own Chuck Canham will also be on hand to talk about soil remineralization and the benefits of using Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster to grow prize-winning roses. Chuck will also be giving away free samples of our all-natural product, which is made of 100% finely milled volcanic basalt from Central Oregon and which is OMRI Listed for use in organic production.
To get a first-hand look at the benefits of using volcanic rock dust to grow roses, be sure to visit Peninsula Park this spring. Portland’s oldest public rose garden, Peninsula Park is over 100 years old and Cascade Minerals donated nearly 2,000 pounds of volcanic basalt rock dust for the garden’s centennial replanting.
For backyard gardeners and rose lovers alike, here are a few tips to help get your roses settled and ready for the biggest, healthiest blooms ever.
1. Roses don’t like wet feet, so make sure your soil is well-drained. Plant roses in areas that get at least 8 hours of sun per day (morning sun is best for drying moisture from the leaves and helping prevent disease).
2. Choose bare root roses over container roses as they adapt better to the surrounding soil (they’re usually less expensive, too). Dig a hole approximately 18-inches wide by 18-inches deep and make a cone of soil at the bottom. Then, add an organic fertilizer mixture—we recommend mixing a scoop of Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster with bone meal and greensand. Place the rose in the hole and carefully fan the roots out over the cone.
Note: We recommend that you use your favorite organic fertilizer in combination with Cascade Minerals. Why? Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster delivers important micronutrients (iron, calcium, magnesium and manganese) while enhancing a plant’s ability to absorb the macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) that fertilizers provide.
3. Fill in the hole, and apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch to deter weeds and retain moisture. Then, spread another cup of Cascade Minerals rock dust around the base of the plant; work into the surrounding soil. The rock dust will nourish the soil and make trace elements and minerals available to the newly planted rose at a balanced rate.
4. Water well to help settle the rose’s roots.
