A rose cocktail ~

I have been making cocktails, not for myself, but for my roses. Actually, as far as drinking is concerned I prefer a glass of wine.

No, this rose cocktail is definitely not for human consumption, nor a fertilizer, but a soil conditioner, full of good things to increase friablity and tilth and works especially well for roses. 

One of the ingredients of most importance to me, Epsom salts, not really salt but magnesium sulfate, helps stimulate growth of new canes. Anyone, especially those with old rose bushes in their garden, can appreciate the benefits of new canes; canes produce flowers and flowers are the glory of growing roses 

antique tea rose: Marie Van Houte

Actually, I had forgotten about all about Rose Cocktail until it was mentioned recently in my gardening class by the extremely knowledgeable and highly regarded author, instructor and gardening expert Jan Smithen. As far as I and many others are concerned when Jan recommends something, it is always of value and importance to your garden and well worth doing.

So,

 this week I have been mixing up batches and scattering it throughout the roses in my garden. I am halfway done and over the next few days should be finished. I have a lot of roses so this is a bit of a chore but I know it will be worth my time.

Here is the recipe, you might want to give it a try.

Rose Cocktail

(not a fertilizer but a soil conditioner for roses)

Mix together:

1 cup gypsum

1 Tbs iron chelate

1 Tbs Epsom salts

1 Tbs sulfer

1 Tbs bone meal

Apply 1 cup per rose bush around the drip line in early spring.

You can of course increase the amount of the mixture, I have been increasing it four fold which gives me enough per batch for 5 applications.

After all this work a real cocktail or glass of  wine for me sounds wonderful.

Thank you for visiting, I hope you have a 'Rosy' day.