Posted by sherryocala 9A Florida (My Page) on Fri, Dec 30, 11 at 12:53

Chris, I hadn't read about the "barren area starvation method", but that's basically what I've done. My front garden is almost surrounded by pavement with weed-cloth covered graveled areas in the middle, and the beds are amended to the extreme (more than 50% soil replacement) and very fertile. The back garden has no pavement nearby but lots of gravel and similarly amended beds. I also don't like the look of fort-grafted roses. I only have one left - Mrs B R Cant. Like you said, if a gardener has only sand and doesn't want or can't go the total excavation/amend route, grafted makes sense. The problem is availability and then expense.

My other concern/doubt/question is the ground below my amended beds. My roses are old enough for their roots to have penetrated into that horrible, compacted, limey, cement-like native ground (Ocala has lots of limestone geology, making it excellent horse country but not so good for roses if you happen to have calcareous soil), and a few roses are suffering chlorosis and thin foliage. I may resort to lifting them, re amending the area and replanting. The organics don't seem to "flow down" sufficiently to alter the original ground. I don't know if nematodes are present in my area or if their habit is to come up from the bottom even if surrounded as you describe with starvation areas. It would be easier to assess the nematode situation if I didn't have the crappy native cement-like sand to complicate the issue. Growing roses well in Florida is certainly doable but definitely not easy. Determination, passion and a strong back (the gardener's or someone else's) are definitely required. But then, of course, people are plopping Knock Outs into the ground all over the place. I wonder what they will be looking like in a few years.

Thanks for commenting about this. I have kind of felt alone in what I have done. You explained it well.

Sherry

My next door neighbors are moving and they gave me two very large metal trellis's. I put them in the backyard in that bare area I had stashed all my plants for the swap, running on the other side of the side walk across from the honeysuckle. I'm thinking of a climbing rose, but know nothing about them. Those who know my yard...would one grow there? any special variety? are they diva's and difficult? (with the dad situation no diva plants! just don't have the time/energy/desire to coddle things anymore).

I'm open to other ideas for these things if you have any...
Lori

Is shrub the same as vine, just pruned to shape, or are they different plants?

Mine has no kind of viney growth; was it just not pruned at nursery so bottom is all woody?

I have seen a gorgeous, bushy hedge of 3 ft x 3 ft yellow allamanda up the street.

I'll take a vine, or a full bushy hedge, but I don't want a leggy in-the-middle thing.

Thanks,
Gina

I want to know how bad the bees get around it. I have a big yard but don't want to put it where there might be lots of bees around the gate or kids' play areas, and I have read not to plant it near a door due to bees.

Thanks,
Gina

btw is there a way to set up my profile so I can get emails to track responses to which threads I posted questions on?

I have a bunch of starters