I live in Central Oregon and roses are very expensive in our market place, so I have started some roses from seed and want to use them as a hedge when they are ready. How long will it be before I can plant my hedge? Also could you suggest how I might winter them over?
This is a tall order the writer has assigned himself. I see some real problems, and don’t actually think this gardener’s idea will come to fruition. Since I told him I’m not a rose person, I called on a friend and fellow master gardener Ray Peterson. Ray agrees with me on this one issue; the tiny seeds that have sprouted will not be the variety of rose that he hoped for. They will be a great mix of crosses, and other specimens it took from early work to develop into the rose he purchased. Ray tells me the only way he can be sure he is starting his choice of rose is through cuttings.
Ray made a comment about wintering the tiny starts over; he suggests the writer beg some space in someone’s green house, or place them up against a building, mulch them up really well, or he says he’s had luck with the tiny plastic zipper green houses drugstores sell.
Thousands of carpenter ants are in my raised beds. What can we do to get rid of them ? If I use regular ant killer on them how long will I need to wait before I can plant vegetables?
Oh my! In my opinion, Never! Not a good idea.
I’ll make a guess that the ants have created a large nest within the wood the bed is made of. Carpenter ants need several things: dampness, soil, and wet wood. Your raised bed is a perfect spot to create a base nest. I would hate to think of you growing food in a bed that is infested. If the wood was not treated in some manner the ants are attracted to it, and must have taken it over. I certainly would not want to think you would be using any insect killer in a bed you’ll be raising food for your family. I would implore you to abandon that bed and create another. Contact the master gardeners office to ask for plans to create safe and sturdy raised beds for your garden.
Email them or call and leave a message at 360-397-6060, ext. 5711. They can help you come to a plan that works well and won’t attract insects.
I’m new to gardening, since I’ve just retired this year. I’m having the best time learning. I have just discovered clematis. I never knew they existed until this last year. Clematis are so absolutely gorgeous, they just intrigue me. I came to the huge plant sale at the Heritage Farm last week and had another amazing discovery — a nursery that sells nothing but clematis. It’s called Silver Star Vinery. I was in heaven for two hours. I have one question. How do you pronounce the plant’s name? I heard several pronunciations and don’t know the proper one.
Well, here goes — you know everything you see in print is someone’s opinion.
Maybe there is a right or wrong, but I think as long as the person you are conversing with knows what plant you are speaking of, that’s sufficient.
However, I do own three plant-pronouncing books, and they do not entirely agree.
The one I use the most is the tiny paperback put out by the American Nurseryman Publishing Co., which says “klem-a-tis.” The other two books are British; one says “Klem-at-is” and the third one says “klem-a-tis,” the same as the American publication. So that’s the version I am attempting to teach myself to say. I’ve only been at it for 25-plus years so I should remember it soon, I’d expect.
I’ve been to that clematis nursery, it’s absolutely amazing! They have a nice website.
Celeste Lindsay is a WSU-certified master gardener. Send questions by clicking here.
