I'll use what gray water I can,
but the number of roses exceeds my supply. Any suggestions?

We had a ban on all "non-essential" water use last summer...no washing cars,
water lawns, filling pools, etc. So we ran soaker hoses into the rose
gardens, and installed a timer, so they only dripped around the roots in the
evening, for a specific length of time. Four to five inches of mulch on top,
reduced the amount of water lost to evaporation. And I kept my plastic "work
buckets" under the eaves to catch runoff from what rain we did get. That was
my "dry days" supply. I'd put a little B-1 and fish emulsion in it, and
carefully pour it in a "slow drench" directly around the roots, using a
"funnel" to channel the fluid deep into the soil rather than just letting it
run off the surface, of whoever looked in need.

Or I'd use it to put in my hand pumped sprayer, and use that water for a
foliar feed combined with a bit of fungicide to compensate. I think this
year I will try a wetting agent, so it sticks better. They love foliar
feedings! At least most of them. The Bonicas and the grumpy Pink
Grootenderst drop their leaves in disgust at the merest suggestion of spray.
Never did care for rugosas anyway, but the Bonica 82's are too tough, hardy,
and lively not to love.

I ran the drip soaker once or twice a week, about an hour each time for deep
watering, and gave them a treat of the water/B-1/fish emulsion drench once a
week, if it had not rained. The idea was to wet the soil, but not saturate
it, down to the roots.

The twenty or so bare roots I had ordered last spring got mostly planted in
large containers, once I realized we were going to be in for a long, hot,
dry summer. This would help keep the water close to the roots, and make it
easier to keep a close watch on their water needs.

My grass went brown, but the roses were gorgeous.


Scopata Fuori