I'm growing in Zone 5 and my roses are mostly on the shadelses south side.
This area had watering restrictions last year, but by and large I was able
to water once a week. This year it looks as if all watering of lawns and
ornamentals is going to be prohibited from the beginning.

The soil is in fair shape, never great on that south exposure. There is
about 3 inches of permanent organic mulch. I'll use what gray water I can,
but the number of roses exceeds my supply. Any suggestions?

Hello,

One idea is to bury a big perforated pvc pipe next to the roses. It should
have a T-opening where you can fill in the water. You probably can get one
in the junk yard for free.

As the water leaks, it will feed your roses. Less water will be wasted
through evaporation and most importantly the rose leaves won't get wet and
cause black spot etc..

Cheers,

Yau-ming

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

Is even drip irrigation prohibited.

When I went from hose watering to
drip for my 85+ roses(pot & ground)
my water consumption dropped from
15000 Gallons to 7000 gallons.

I don't water my drought resistant grass.

Check your ordinances I'm sure drip is not
prohibited.

--
Theo in Zone 5
Kansas City

"B. Midler" wrote in message
. net...
I'm growing in Zone 5 and my roses are mostly on the shadelses south side.
This area had watering restrictions last year, but by and large I was able
to water once a week. This year it looks as if all watering of lawns and
ornamentals is going to be prohibited from the beginning.

The soil is in fair shape, never great on that south exposure. There is
about 3 inches of permanent organic mulch. I'll use what gray water I can,
but the number of roses exceeds my supply. Any suggestions?

This is not a good idea .
Roses do not like wet feet.

Has your experience been different?

--
Theo in Zone 5
Kansas City

"Yau-ming Chiam" wrote in message
...
Hello,

One idea is to bury a big perforated pvc pipe next to the roses. It should
have a T-opening where you can fill in the water. You probably can get one
in the junk yard for free.

As the water leaks, it will feed your roses. Less water will be wasted
through evaporation and most importantly the rose leaves won't get wet and
cause black spot etc..

Cheers,

Yau-ming

"B. Midler" wrote in message
. net...
I'm growing in Zone 5 and my roses are mostly on the shadelses south side.
This area had watering restrictions last year, but by and large I was able
to water once a week. This year it looks as if all watering of lawns and
ornamentals is going to be prohibited from the beginning.

The soil is in fair shape, never great on that south exposure. There is
about 3 inches of permanent organic mulch. I'll use what gray water I can,
but the number of roses exceeds my supply. Any suggestions?


Hello B. Midler

Three words: Water Polymer Crystals. This was a dry,
dry summer in Oregon and the roses were showing the stress.
We ordered some crystals, made some little scratching noises
about a foot away from the center of each hole, tried hard not
to disturb the roots, and added about 1 cup of re-hydrated
crystals to each hole. Covered the whole mess with the soil
and the mulch and put next to it the dripping hoses. We
didn't lose any roses this year. If you want to get really fancy
add some water soluble food to the re-hydrating water and
you have a mild feeding system there. We used them also
in our big pots and never had any problems even during
the second coming these past weeks.

Good drainage helps, but it is nice to know that there is
something moist down by the roots. I have seen people
around here shred newspapers and wet them well and then
add them before the mulch. Since we already have lasagna beds,
it doesn't do much for us but maybe it would work for you.
Good luck,

Allegra
in an almost dry Portland, Oregon

In t B. Midler wrote:
The soil is in fair shape, never great on that south exposure. There
is about 3 inches of permanent organic mulch. I'll use what gray water
I can, but the number of roses exceeds my supply. Any suggestions?

Come to sunny NSW, where 99.7% of the state is drought declared ;-)

Seriously, if they sell water storing granules where you live, put them
under your mulch and dig into the top soil. They swell into jelly-like
globs and hold a stack of water, then dry back into crystals again. It
will make the most of what water you do give them.

Also use a soil wetting agent to make sure run-off is zero and water
hits the root zone where it will be taken up, as well as stored away
from the risk of high evaporation.

B. Midler wrote:
I'm growing in Zone 5 and my roses are mostly on the shadelses south side.
This area had watering restrictions last year, but by and large I was able
to water once a week. This year it looks as if all watering of lawns and
ornamentals is going to be prohibited from the beginning.

The soil is in fair shape, never great on that south exposure. There is
about 3 inches of permanent organic mulch. I'll use what gray water I can,
but the number of roses exceeds my supply. Any suggestions?


Soil polymers.

http://www.watersorb.com/

"Cass" wonders if

Does anyone know how these polymers act when there is heavy rain? We
have that Medierranean climate issue, 6 months of some rain,
occasionally really heavy, 6 months of sure drought. I don't want them
to drown in the rainy season, when the soils get completely saturated.

Hello Cass dear,

Just like normal little sponges, once saturated they cannot hold any
more water, and they do not turn into little mud puddles, at least in
this tropical banana belt that is Portland, Oregon. This desert of warm
climates...oh, that's right, never mind about my fantasy place to grow
roses. But I digress, they work just fine. We nearly floated all the way
down your way in the past three weeks and I wasn't so much worried
about the grounds as I was about the pots (the big 15s from Leonard's
where 50 roses are growing) and I went to check and believe it or
not they need to be watered! So I don't think that once they are filled
with water they act as a retainer and more.

We have had so far a very good experience with them. Like Susan
we ordered them through the web, we got I can't remember how
many pounds and we put them everywhere we thought there was
a need for them. I promise to keep the group informed (whether
they care or not about the issue) as to the results comes this summer
that they are saying, yet once more, that El Niño will bring "huge
tracts" of heat and dry weather. I believe it when I see it, since we
only have one good summer every four years according to my
keeping track of this unimportant fact for the past 32 years here.

How are your roses doing? Are you all done with your jackhammer
and creating the next paleontological dig in your area? I bet your
roses love it! How is your back tho?

Allegra

Julia wrote:

Cass wrote:
Does anyone know how these polymers act when there is heavy rain? We
have that Medierranean climate issue, 6 months of some rain,
occasionally really heavy, 6 months of sure drought. I don't want them
to drown in the rainy season, when the soils get completely saturated.


If you've followed the directions (this is key), not used too much, and
mulched heavily, they're fine. If not, they tend to rise to the soil
surface. Looks like clear jello which is kinda' weird. And you sure
don't want that underfoot as it's quite slippery and you don't want to
end up on your tookus. The soil dries out faster than the polymers, of
course. I've never had a problem with them holding too much water.

Yeah, but your annual rainfall is...5 inches? What Allegra says makes
sense. I sure could use something in the pots when I got away during
the summer. I think the garden would be too big a job.

In article yKQ2a.88117$iG3.11994@sccrnsc02, Allegra
wrote:

"Cass" wonders if

Does anyone know how these polymers act when there is heavy rain? We
have that Medierranean climate issue, 6 months of some rain,
occasionally really heavy, 6 months of sure drought. I don't want them
to drown in the rainy season, when the soils get completely saturated.

Hello Cass dear,

Just like normal little sponges, once saturated they cannot hold any
more water, and they do not turn into little mud puddles, at least in
this tropical banana belt that is Portland, Oregon.

Sounds good. If it works in Oregon, I couldn't possibly have a problem
here. I'll be interested in your report new summer.

How are your roses doing? Are you all done with your jackhammer
and creating the next paleontological dig in your area? I bet your
roses love it! How is your back tho?

Pretty much finished the pruning. With the help of Hercules, I moved 2
enormous Westerlands and one large Pierre de Rensard, Sunsprite and
Happenstance. All but the latter were essentially barerooted and have
already sent out new growth. The first three were 5 feet tall and wide,
now substantially reduced.

Mme Driout is planted next to Fortune's Double Yellow (donor foliage).
I now have the happy job of deciding exactly how to build pillars for a
good number of climbers. Charles de Mills is a single cane and already
trying to escape through the drain hole.

My back is fine, which I shall try to remedy next week with 4 days on
the ski slopes. :~)

Cass wrote:
Yeah, but your annual rainfall is...5 inches? What Allegra says makes
sense. I sure could use something in the pots when I got away during
the summer. I think the garden would be too big a job.


Our annual rainfall is anywhere from 5-10 inches. I started using it
for exactly the reason you're looking for it, to tend to the pots during
summer vacation. It did the job admirably.