6       October  2004        The CRS CommPoster

 

 

 

 

Rose Winter Protection - ….Continued from Pg 5

 

Pick up spent Christmas trees, when available, and place them over the rose mounds, once they have frozen. This will collect extra snow cover and keep the mounds frozen. (Mud heaps around our rose bushes are quite undesirable, which may happen during an unseasonal thaw.) Alternatively, apply a deep layer of mulch over the frozen mounds. The leaves painstakingly raked off the lawn will serve well; I hope they were not consigned to the municipal waste disposal system!

 

The soil-mound method is to be recommended to those new to rose growing, as it is time and effectiveness tested. There are other means of protection: rose-collars filled with mulch, polystyrine buckets, polyethylene blankets, etc., which have their adherents, but cannot be unreservedly recommended for all climatic zones.

 

Tender Climbers and Shrub Roses pose a bit more of a challenge. We ought to try to protect the current season’s wood, which will bear next year’s blossoms. In Agriculture Canada zone 5, spent Christmas trees festooned on the trellis provide sufficient protection, in five years out of seven. Similarly, large bushes could have some tied around them, which would break the wind and collect snow. (The best protection possible.) Un-tying climbers from their supports, or forcing shrub roses to the ground, in order to cover them with earth, is very laborious and not recommended. Plant winter-hardy shrub roses and climbers instead. Check the CRS web-site for Winter-hardy Roses.

 

Or else, enjoy other people’s gardens!

 

 

 

LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT

12 August 2004

 

 

Rachel Flood

President – Canadian Rose Society

155 Edgehill Drive

Kitchener, ON N2P 2C6

 

Re: Your open letter, August 2004 CRS Commposter

 

Dear Ms. Flood,

 

            The expressed aim of the Canadian Rose Society to function as a national society fostering cultivation, exhibition and enjoyment of roses is noble and well worth striving for.

 

            As a grassroots member of the Vancouver Rose Society (VRS) and the Canadian Rose Society (CRS) I offer the following comments.

  1. Vancouver Rose Society is a highly active body which, in a spirit of mutual self-help serves the needs of its members splendidly.
  2. Greater Vancouver’s climate is so different from other Canadian regions that directions for rose cultivation elsewhere are of no concern to Vancouver rosarians.
  3. VRS has had excellent educational programs and judging schools for many years.
  4. I perceive that CRS serves the needs of southern Ontario well, i.e. metropolitan Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo.  Vast distances prevent western Canadian members from ever attending CRS functions in Toronto or the “Golden Horseshoe”.
  5. I perceive that CRS competes with VRS.

…..Continued on Pg 7