HALIFAX REAL ESTATE & HALIFAX HOMES PROPERTIES

Real News - June 2006

Rewards of a Rose Garden

Roses have the reputation of being difficult, fussy plants that require a great deal of attention and time. Although it takes some effort on your part to maintain the beauty and health of a rose garden, the reward of numerous blossoms in wonderful vibrant colors is sufficient reward for most gardeners. A little water, fertilizer, and spray, on a weekly basis, can be a pleasant excuse to spend time in your fragrant garden.

Your rose bed should be planted where it receives full or partial sunshine at least six hours a day. There are varieties of roses that thrive in more shade but they will not be as fragrant as the others.

Good drainage is also critical for roses. They like a lot of water, but do not like wet feet, so a raised bed of at least ten to fifteen inches high is a solution. It also makes gardening chores easier. Roses do best in loamy soil with high humus content. Amend the soil with organic matter such as compost, peat moss or cow manure and be sure to test the soil to determine the acidity.

Check with a nursery in your area for tips on when to transplant roses, but generally, any time from spring to fall, or when the plant is dormant and the ground is workable. Water every 3 or 4 days, soaking the soil to 8 inches; and fertilize depending on your type of soil, but usually about once every 4-6 weeks.

Lots of varieties of roses are available. The choices include climbing roses, tree roses, miniature roses, hybrid perpetual roses, grandiflora roses, and antique roses to name a few. Look at your space and the view from the house to determine how you want to define the space for planting. The rose can serve many functions including becoming a fragrant hedge and then providing bouquets of fresh cut flowers to decorate the inside of your home.

Give roses a try. The rewards are many and the satisfaction of seeing a perfect rose that you have grown makes it well worth the effort

Add Fragrance to Your Home

Potpourri is a great way to add fragrance indoors. Most potpourri is made of lavender and rose petals. Combining different herbs makes a distinct change in fragrance. Here is a recipe for Rose Petal Potpourri.

3 cups dried rose petals

2 cups dried lavender flowers

1 cup dried lemon verbena leaves

1 tablespoon powdered allspice

1 tablespoon ground cloves

1/4 oz. essential oil of rose

Mix all ingredients together and store in an air tight jar for several weeks before using.

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"Enjoy, don't analyze." That's good advice. Unless you're curious about the value of your home, the cost to move up, or trends in the marketplace. I'm ready to help you or a friend, at your convenience.

- Thomas