Roses, Transformation & Irrigation
If you are looking for a treat, click on this link for a flowering fireworks display to ring in the New Year. And be sure to thank member Linda Barran for sharing this with us!
Twenty-four of us gathered via zoom on Tuesday, January 12 at 9:30am. The meeting line-up included:
Club News including new polls and prizes, as well as the annual Treasurer’s report
Member presentations by Deborah Liou on Caring for Roses Throughout the Year, and Carol Prail on her Garden Transformation
The latest news on water conservation through the use of “Solid Set Irrigation” by SCA Resident Doug Lancaster.
A copy of all the slides from this meeting are available by clicking here.
A few additional comments from the question and answer sessions of our three presentations follow:
Re Roses: cutting is probably gentler than pulling the leaves off when it is time to prune. Rosarians recommend soil amendments such as sulphur, epsom salts and cottonseed - but some have succeeded with roses without these amendments. Compost is available from Star Nursery in their rock yard. They provide 15 gallon containers free and the use of a shovel. You can fill 5 of those containers for about $10. It is believed that this is the same compost that Bob Morris recommended from Vera Grow in California. Pruning tools should be sterilized with a mixture of bleach and water before pruning and before moving on to the next rose bush.
Re Garden Transformation: The Prails contracted the irrigation and paver work. They did nearly all the rest of the work themselves over a 5 year period. For lighting, they went to Lowe's and bought one of each style of landscaping light, then took it home to see how it worked to determine which was the best light in each location, then they completed the installation on their own. The Jasmine trellis is successful in a location that faces North. The Jasmine would be burnt by a southern exposure.
Re Solid Set Irrigation: There are several companies who will install this system. If you are interested in knowing more, Doug is open to talking to you directly and showing you the installation at his home. Contact Club President, Tina Hohnstein at SCAGardenClub20@gmail.com for Doug's contact information.
Members have also been made aware of additional learning opportunities regarding Pruning, Vegetable Gardening, and Composting that are available through the University of Nevada Community Horticulture Education Program in the months of January, February and March respectively.
We hope you’ll consider sharing news from your garden at a future meeting! And, YES, this photo really is a sight you can see in a January garden in Sun City Anthem!