Better Homes and Gardens Australia — December 2017

EXPERT TIPS
Here is what to know to grow
beautiful roses at your place.

• The soil used for the Flemington
  roses is brought in from a local
  garden supplier, not the stables!
  It’s a mix of sandy soil, composted
  manure and organic matter.


• The plants are fed three times
  a year with an organic slow-
  release fertiliser – in September,
  late November and late January.
  Additional foliar feeding
  with a fish-based liquid
  fertiliser is done weekly
  once they go into bud.


• All winter pruning
  is done by hand, and
  that’s why the pruning
  schedule starts at the end
  of May. The first roses to be
  trimmed are those that take a
  long time to flower – ‘the slow
  coaches’ Terry calls them. And,
  the last are called ‘the sprinters’.
  At your place, midwinter is
  the time to prune, which
  is July in most districts.

What they need

THE 4 ESSENTIALS

Sun Give roses a position in

full sun and ensure the plants

have good airflow. Avoid

growing them near big shrubs

and trees that will cause them to

compete for light and nutrients.

Water During the warm

months, regular water

is key. Avoid overhead

watering to reduce the risk

of disease such as powdery

mildew and black spot.

Food They’re hungry plants,

so feed them well. Use a slow-

release fertiliser for roses and

supplement with liquid feeding.

You Prune roses in winter,

and deadhead for more blooms

during the growing season. ➤

Flemington Racecourse

Grimaldi

DECEMBER 2017 BHG 77

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