October  2004       The CRS CommPoster      5

 

 

 

ORGANIZATION

The Board has approved the appointment of Ralph Bullough as the Chairman of the Regional Directors across Canada.  We are more than pleased that Ralph has agreed to take on this position.  The Regional and District Directors are on the front line, the voice of the CRS.  Our success greatly depends on our Regional representation.  Our goal is to truly become a National body that will strengthen the Rose scene across Canada.

 

The Rose Consultants and the Speakers report to the Regional Directors.  The Demonstration gardens will stay with Doreen Stanton to allow the Regional Directors to get their teams working well.  The Demonstrations Gardens structure will be reviewed again in one year.  The District Directors will continue to report to the Regional Directors where applicable; Ontario only at present.

 

At the recent suggestion of Arnold Pittao, each province has a Regional Director position.  The District Director position has been established where the population distribution warrants it.  Ralph, in conjunction with you, may suggest other changes.  Board approval will be sought at that time.

 

 

 

 

FROM THE EDITOR –

 

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE COMMPOSTER NEWSLETTER?

 

I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS

 

PLEASE FORWARD THEM TO ME AT THE ADDRESS ON PAGE 1

 

Marie Farnady

 

 

ROSE WINTER PROTECTION

By George Pagowski

Autumn is upon us, a time to consider the protection of our tender roses. Experienced rose fanciers are familiar with the needs of the cultivars (= cultivated varieties) they grow, their local climatic conditions, and will have adopted a suitable technique. The following remarks, therefore, are aimed at the novice rose grower.

 

 “Tender roses” are cultivars considered not to be winter-hardy in a given locality. This includes Hybrid Teas (i.e. Large-flowered roses), Floribundas, Miniatures, as well as some classified as Shrub Roses. Here the experienced gardener scores: having researched which cultivars to buy and purchased healthy roses from a reputable nursery, planted them properly on a well-selected site; then watered and fertilized them as required, and made sure that the plants were not forced into late-summer growth, but were given time to ripen their canes thoroughly.

 

Winter protection ought not to be applied before a severe frost has stopped growth, and the roses have dropped their foliage. The canes are pruned to approximately knee height and are tied together, in order to minimize rocking by winter winds. Fallen leaves and prunings should be carefully removed from the rose bed, before the crowns of the plants are covered with earth. The mounds should be at least 20 cm (8 in) high in Canada zone 5A and higher still in colder areas. Make sure that the soil is well packed between the canes and the surface of the mound is firmed, to avoid rain erosion. The soil for these mounds should not be dug from around the rose bushes, which might injure the roots. Import it from another part of your garden, such as the vegetable patch or a flower bed that would be vacant over winter.

 

….Continued on Pg 6