MSN_041218

malibusurfsidenews.com Sound Off
Malibu surfside news | April 12, 2018 | 13
Don’t Panic, It’s Organic
Tips for growing picture-perfect roses
Andy Lopez
Contributing Columnist
Invisible Gardener
Having beautiful
roses is not impossible,
nor hard.
There are seven basic tips
that you need to follow.
1. First up is giving
some attention to the soil.
If you want any chance of
winning first prize in the
rose-growing contest, you
must have living soil. I
talk a lot about this — and
for good reason. Imagine
if your stomach was
not functioning properly.
How long would you stay
healthy? It is the same
with roses or anything else
that grows out of the soil.
I like to tell folks that you
must buy “live” compost
for a reason. Compost,
if properly made, will
contain not only have
living microbial life, but
also the proper sources of
trace minerals required by
both microbes and plants.
Using BioChar will help
to increase the carbon
in the soil needed by the
microbes to process the
minerals. Carbon would
normally be available if
there were regular fires.
Fires are Mother Nature’s
way of adding the
much-needed carbon into
the soil. Carbon is also
available in other ways:
from the air, from decaying
plant and animal life,
from rocks and other
sources normally found
in the soil. I use the word
normally because we no
longer live in a normal
world. You should learn
how to properly use not
only BioChar, but also
mulch. Woodchips are not
mulch. I suggest you use
an acid mulch for growing
in California because the
soil is so alkaline. By the
way, oak leaf mold is an
excellent soil amendment
but is hard to find unless
your neighbor is throwing
it away.
2. Genetics are important.
Grow roses that are
fit for your area. Growing
roses that are bred for
other areas will only lead
to trouble. So buy from
your local nursery instead
of through catalog unless
you follow their instructions
as to picking roses.
Many folks buy what they
like regardless of where it
can grow.
3. Nutrition is also
very important. Proper
access to minerals is key
to healthy soil and plant
growth. All diseases
originate in the soil. They
are there waiting for the
proper conditions. It is
the role of the microbial
life to process the minerals
into a form that is then
available to the plants.
They transfer the minerals
through the root hairs to
the plants. Trace mineral
deficiency is the No. 1
cause of many pests and
diseases in plants, animals
and humans. All living
things need the proper
trace minerals to function
as a healthy being. It is
also important not to use
chemical fertilizers, as
they destroy the microbial
life. It destroys the plant’s
root hairs. Chemicals are
absorbed directly into the
plant, causing massive
growth but also massive
stress. Remember, the
higher the stress, the more
the pest or disease. Many
things happen when you
use chemical fertilizers,
and none of it is good.
It’s just like a weightlifter
who uses steroids to build
up his/her body. Ask their
doctor, and he/she will
tell you the body is under
massive stress. So chemical
fertilizers are like cocaine.
Always use organic
fertilizers made for roses,
or make your own. I like
making my own organic
rose fertilizer since I know
what they need and want.
4. The proper use of water
is also very important.
Too much water makes the
soil waterlogged, killing
off all microbial life. Use
a drip system and never
water overhead. If possible,
use a fertigation unit
to which you add compost
tea or some other natural
microbial liquid. There are
many on the market these
days. Try SuperSeaweed.
5. Pruning is also very
important. Prune wrong,
and there go your blooms.
There are two times
when you need to prune.
During the winter time,
roses require rest. So they
are pruned down to last
year’s growth. Remove
all plant materials,
because they can spread
diseases back into the
soil. This is a good time
to apply compost, etc.
Normally you would do
that after winter is over,
but we do not have snow
to worry about here. The
other time you want to
prune is when you have
roses you want to take
inside and enjoy. Usually,
a good rule of thumb is to
pick roses below where
the leaf is five-pointed.
There is a node that you
cut just above that. Make
sure you clean your pruners
between cuts.
6. Foliar spraying your
roses is also key. Roses,
like all plants, can absorb
nutrients through their
leaves. Take advantage of
that. Use foliar applications
to provide minerals
and other nutrients on a
regular basis. This will
also help the root systems
function better. This is very
useful when you are trying
to bring the soil back to
life. You can also control
many pests and diseases
this way.
7. This is a simple one.
Never plant roses next to a
lawn or under a tree. Roses
do not like overhead watering.
This causes many
problems and basically
destroys the natural bacteria
normally found on their
Plus, enjoy speeds up to 45Mbps
at one all-included price,
with no extra monthly fees.
Internet speeds up to 45Mbps
Wi-Fi Gateway router to connect your devices
AT&T Internet Security Suite—powered by McAfee
Bundle with another qualifying AT&T service and get internet for $30/mo.
DIRECTV + Internet + Home Phone
Bundles Starts at
$
89.99/ mo
leaves. City water kills off
these natural bacteria.
This year, we didn’t get
much rain until recently. If
you had applied your rock
dust, BioChar, compost
and mulch, you would be
a good shape now. If not,
what are you waiting for?
It is not too late.
By the way, my new
book is now available.
Stop by my website and
check it out. Mention
Surfside News and I’ll send
you a free PDF copy.
Any questions? Email me at
andylopez@invisiblegardener.
com.
touch & take off!
Internet
plan starts at
$
40.00/ mo
Call today and pay less 844-362-3968
Over 145 of your favorite channels
Internet speeds up to 45Mbps
A Genie® HD DVR receiver and 3 additional TV receivers
HD Included
Phone - With over 25 convenient calling features
©2017 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo, and all other AT&T marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T
affiliated companies. Subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. provide products and services under the AT&T brand. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.