Susan H. Simko wrote:

Shiva wrote:

I need your secret. Tell me this, did you put in any
bare roots? And, how do you keep the voles from eating
your roots? I know the best way is to not have anywhere
for them to hide, but I like mulch and do not have time
to keep the non-rose areas tidy, so they love my yard.
This year I'm hopeful because it appears that the moles
are back. Since the voles use the old tunnels of moles,
maybe this means no voles this year??

I put in one bare root last year. All the rest were potted in one way
or another. What I mean by that is that a couple were el cheapo rescues
from Walmart, others were beautifully potted from vendors and then the
tiny pots with my miniatures.

Did your bare root do as well as your potted roses?


I also (knocking on my head since that's the closest substitute to wood
I have) haven't had a problem with voles. I also haven't done anything
to stop them. I don't use mulch is the only thing I can add since I'm
lazy and I don't really like the looks of it. Also, almost all my roses
have companion plants of one sore or another at their feet.

I am so torn. Currently, even if I had the time to clean up all the
oak leaves etc. that keep the yards "vole friendly" and planted
companion plants, the little pluckers would probably eat the
roots of the companion plants. And I DON'T have time to do this.
They killed my cherry tree, a dog wood, and several roses
last year. I have tried everything, including traps, poison,
and permatil. The latter worked until they must have gotten
calluses on their little feet so it doesn't hurt to dig in
the Permatil. Bahsssstahds! Meanwhile, my use of the
Deadly Orthenex for the past five years is supposed to kill
off everything with a pulse in my garden, according to the
no-spray folks. I wish it would just take out the voles and
moles and leave the birds. *Sigh*



Purple, isn't it? And scented, IIRC.

That's the claim on Heirloom. *grin*

We want updates. I might need this one.

You're the one responsible for me wanting Barbra Streisand. I just
haven't got a chance to go down to Witherspoons to pick one up.

Ooo, the short term memory is the first thing to go!

I'm not
sure if I'm going to be able to find a local Desert Peace. If not, I've
got a list of a few others that I'm also willing to put in: Perfect
Moment, Bella Roma, and Sheila's Perfume. I'm not as fussy about colour
(though white does nothing for me) as I am about perfume. I also want
something that I can cut for in the house.

I REALLY WANT Bella Roma. I really love SP, but mine is very
stingy, so be prepared. When she squeezes one off it is to
die for, though. Still worth it.



I think we need a diagram of your yard with plantings
(including g-g-g grass) identified. Only fellow rose
heads can really tell if you have enough roses. :')

*grin* I keep telling my partner that I'm simply minimizing the amount
of grass that needs to be cut. After all, I take care of the beds and
my partner mows the lawn so am I not doing my partner a favour?

This is an excellent approach.


OTH, right now we're at around 20 roses,

Oh, puleeze! We don't need no steenkeen
diagram to know that this is not
NEARLY enough!!

What are you thinking?

:')