How to Get the Most Out of Cut Roses
QUESTION: We have lovely roses and place some of them from time to time on my deceased daughter’s grave, in a cup of water. The problem is that they wilt badly in a very short while. Is there any way to make them last longer?
ANSWER: We forget that even under optimal conditions on the plant most individual flowers actually last only several days. Cut flowers are at a disadvantage, because the act of cutting shreds microscopic stem cells, and the debris partially blocks the passage ways for water. This is worsened when bacteria and other microorganisms attack the wounded tissues. Combine that with the fact that water continues to evaporate (“transpire,” really) from flowers and leaves after the stem is cut--especially when exposed to direct sunlight or outdoor breezes--and it’s practically a miracle that they last any time at all!
You can help maximize the longevity of cut roses by using this trick: Cut the blooms in the early morning or late afternoon. Put the stems in a tall container of warm water, clear up to the necks of the flowers if possible. Place this container of flowers in your refrigerator for at least an hour, preferably more, or over night. (This process even revives wilted roses and allows the flowers to last much longer.) Indoors, re-cut about an inch off the stems under running water every day. Outdoors try to shade the blooms from direct sunlight. Placing them there late in the day (so they can acclimate during the cool of the night) may help.
Weedy Bermuda Lawn Overwhelms Gardener
Q: Our lawn is Bermuda grass. I am overwhelmed by the number of weeds in it. I cannot remove them by hand: There are too many. There is oxalis, devil grass, burr clover and some small, stringy plant that is spreading. There is one dark green area that is very healthy. I think maybe the sewer pipe is leaking underneath that spot. Please advise regarding this problem and also routine year-round care.
A: Because your lawn is thriving in the location where it seems to get enough moisture and food, I suspect the rest of your lawn is actually just malnourished! While Bermuda grass tolerates heat and sun, it needs regular feeding and watering and frequent mowing to look good.
If your lawn gets adequate water plus regular feeding with a high-nitrogen balanced fertilizer, it should green up pretty quickly. Mow it weekly (or perhaps even twice a week during peak growth) to only one-half inch (really). Then the weeds will not be able to tolerate the rapid growth of the grass or the short mowing, and they will die out. Any which somehow persist can be zapped with a product that contains “2, 4-d” (scientifically referred to as 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid--and now you see why they just call it “2, 4-d”!). This product will not harm the grass, but kills broad-leaf weeds (and shrubbery, if you’re not careful!).
Overseed in October or November with rye, to keep the lawn looking good. Mow the rye higher, at 1 1/2 or 2 inches. Then in the springtime, when your Bermuda starts growing again, go back to mowing low.
Which Annuals Will Do Well in Summer?
Q: I remember reading in your column some time back that pansies and some other annuals do best in the winter months. But what kinds of annuals do best in the heat of summer?
A: There’s a pretty big list of good summer “annuals” that are both easy to find and easy to grow.
These prefer shade: Begonia, Coleus, Impatiens, Mimulus (Monkey Flower).
And these like sun: Ageratum, Aster, Brachycome (Swan River Daisy), Dwarf Dahlia, Golden Fleece Daisy, Gomphrena (GLobe Amaranth), Hypoestes (Pink Polka-dot Plant), Lobelia, Marigold, Nasturtium, Nicotiana, Petunia, Portulaca (Moss Rose), Salvia, Verbena, Vinca (Periwinkle), Zinnia. Have fun!
Roses are glorious this year. For easy-care instructions to help you get great roses with a minimum of trouble, order my special video, “The Care and Pruning of Your Roses.” Send a check or money order for $18.99 (made out to Jack Christensen) to Rose Care Video, P.O. Box 1231, Ontario, Calif. 91762-0231. Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.
