Friday, November 14, 2008

A Winter Rose - How To Prepare Your Roses For Winter

How to prepare any rose for winter always depends on temperature. In general, if in your area during winter the temperature drops to minus 10 degrees F or lower then any rose bush will need some protection.

Note: If you live in a area that has a mild winter then most of the following will not apply. However, the advice on fertilizing and watering in general does. (In mild winter areas a rose never really goes dormant though does require a season of rest).

Whether you have a hybrid tea, floribunda, tree rose, miniature or climber the goal is always the same... To protect the crown and roots of the plant from the worst of the winter cold and possible mid-winter thaws and re-freezings.

In the case of climbing roses and tree roses you will also need to protect the upper parts (long canes for climbers and top flowering crown for rose standards) as well.

Preparing a rose for winter will always start in spring ( yes, I did mean spring). Any rose that has had a long and well tended growing season will be better able to tolerate the worst any winter has to offer.

Throughout the growing season be sure to water a rose deeply (allow the soil to dry to a depth of 2 inches or so before watering again, the root system needs air too) and fertilize regularly which will encourage a deep and healthy root system as well as healthy canes and flowers.

Roses store nutrients in their woody canes and so the bigger the plant the healthier it will be. Maintain a routine of pest and disease prevention as well as careful pruning to remove spindly growth and damaged or diseased canes.

About mid to late August stop fertilizing though do continue to water deeply (never let the roots of a rose completely dry out). About late September stop cutting blooms and allow a few rose hips to develop which will be a signal to the plant that it's dormant period is approaching.

Once you have had a few good frosts, leaves will start falling. Apply a dormant spray such as lime sulfur or a dormant oil spray. This will kill pests and fungal diseases that might try to over-winter on the plant or surrounding soil. It can also help nudge those final leaves off. Rake leaves from around your plants and throughout your yard to prevent the spread of disease or a place for pests to hide.

Continue watering only as needed until the first hard frost and the ground is frozen. At this point cover the base (crown) of the plant and the surrounding soil (about 12 inches around the base of the plant) with a thick layer of straw, leaves or mulch and then cover with a few inches of soil. Do not remove soil from around the plant to cover the crown, that soil is needed to insulate the rest of the surrounding roots. Instead, use soil from another part of the garden.

Climbing roses require the same protection listed above and in addition will need to have their long canes protected as well. Carefully remove the canes from the trellis, fence or wall they are tied to, lay them on the ground and cover with a thick layer of straw, leaves or mulch and a few inches of soil just like the base of the plant.

Tree roses are a special case in that not only do you need to protect the base and "trunk" of the plant but the top flowering crown as well.

There are 3 ways to over-winter a rose standard if it is planted in the ground. One, is to dig the plant up keeping a good sized root-ball and "heal" the plant into a large container then move it into a shed or garage for the winter. As spring approaches the plant is brought back outside and re-planted in the ground.

The second method is to carefully remove some soil from one side of the plant and bend it until it is laying on its side and then covering the entire plant with a thick layer of straw, leaves or mulch and 3 to 4 inches of soil. This method can be tricky for the novice gardener as there is a danger of cracking or breaking the plant at one of its grafting points.

The third method may be the easiest for a ground planted tree rose. First, wrap the entire plant in a thick layer of straw and burlap taking care to fully protect the plant from top to bottom. Secure everything with either clips, string, twine or wire and after taking a few measurements construct a ply-wood box (with an open bottom) to place around or over the plant.

Rose standards that are planted in containers are the easiest to care for. After following the advice for preparing a rose for winter listed above, simply move into a shed or garage where the temperature will be milder than the temperature outside. Check the soil now and then to make sure the roots do not dry out (water lightly when needed) and move back outside once the danger of frost has past.

Late winter - early spring: When there is no longer a danger of a killing freeze uncover your roses and water deeply if needed. Once new growth starts to appear is when you'll want to prune. Remove any damaged or spindly canes and prune back healthy canes by 1/3 to 1/2. Then fertilize and follow all the steps necessary to promote healthy vigorous plants for the entire growing season.

What Your Clothes Really Say About You?

People often say that your clothes define who you are. Generally, you wear clothes to fit the occasion.

Some people wear clothes they feel comfortable in while others feel the need to wear stylish clothes that follow the current trends of the fashion industry.

No matter which of these categories you fit into, here are some basic rules of selecting different clothing styles to improve your appearance.

1. Clean and neat is acceptable; grungy and lousy ones are a no-no.

This applies to clothes for any occasion. Wash and properly iron and maintain your clothes so they do not have that worn-out look. This applies to each detail of your appearance as well.

Make sure that the accessories you choose match your outfit and make certain that you are well-groomed, from the top of your head to the tips of your newly-polished shoes.

2. Wear your clothes with an attitude.

You can look elegant even if you are just wearing jeans and a white shirt; this is where class and élan comes in. Some people can look great even when they are wearing a sack-like dress. What are the secrets celebrities are using to shed pounds after pounds? Secrets revealed at http://www.diets-weightloss.info

If you are the type of person who can pull off wearing jeans to a black-tie affair without looking like a “fish out of water”, then you can probably wear anything you desire and still manage to look great. If you are not naturally born with the appearance a super model, try to improve your appearance by paying attention to small details and trying out different types of clothes.

Ask for a friend’s or a professional opinion to ensure that you make the most of your attributes..

3. Make sure that your clothes fit.

From your underclothing to your blouse, pants, skirt, coat and shoes – never wear anything that does not fit well. A smooth, tailored look will further enhance your appearance and make you look as if Ralph Lauren personally designed your clothes for you.

4. Go with trends but do not overdo it.

If animal print is in season, acquire one piece of that theme as part of your wardrobe and pair it with something that is more understated. Never wear a tiger-print blouse, shoes and skirt all at the same time. When it comes to trends - less is more. When you are in good health and take care of yourself on the inside, it's bound to radiate to the outside! Find out more about fat workouts that keeps you in good, healthy shape.

5. Mix and match.

In your wardrobe, have one item of everything: do not buy multiple pieces of the same color and style of jeans or shirts. Variety will make your outfits more fun and interesting.

Remember that these are just fashion basics, but the basic rule is to wear whatever you feel comfortable in, experiment, have fun wearing your clothes with an attitude!

Nursing Clothes And Maternity Clothes That Make You Look Good!

Many women find maternity clothes shopping challenging with an ever changing waistline and bust line in addition to facing the challenge of trying to look like their pre-baby selves again without looking, God forbid, fat. Those of us who have had babies know that maternity clothes shopping is just the beginning of the challenge. Once you have your baby, you will need to find clothing that not only fits you comfortably, without showing off your postpartum belly, but most of all does not make you look pregnant! For this reason, wearing your maternity clothes after the baby is not the best choice for avoiding that question you no longer want to hear "When are you due?"

If you plan to nurse your baby and actually plan on leaving the house with the possibility of nursing your baby on the go, a few basic, and yes, even stylish nursing tops will make your daily routine much easier. We all know that if you like how you look and if you like what you are wearing and how it fits, you are a much happier person which, in turn, gives the trickle down effect to rest of your family and baby. Even better, if you are wearing a nursing top that is actually made with easy nursing access and fits in a way that helps conceal a postpartum belly, you will be much happier. And, most important, happy mothers have happy babies (who have quicker access to their breakfast, lunch and dinner)!

So where do you start when looking for nursing clothes? Well if you don't have time to shop locally, online is wonderful place to shop anytime of the day - even midnight when you are nursing your baby. There are many good nursing lines on the market today. Depending if you are looking for sophisticated, dressy casual, trendy or comfortable nursing wear, there is a brand and a style to fit the need. Here are a few recommendations:

Japanese Weekend makes a wide assortment of urban chic nursing tops that are sophisticated enough to wear to the office without anybody knowing it's a nursing top. Many of these tops do double as a maternity tops, but are not made to make you look pregnant when you are not. Many of their styles are empire waist designs of all sorts of fun patterns as well as solids, such as their Obi Style and Kimono Style maternity and nursing tops, that will easily disguise a postpartum belly. A few of Japanese Weekend's nursing tops are made with a faux cami design, such as the Lace Tipped Maternity and Nursing top, which allows you to nurse without displaying your cleavage to the rest of the world. Japanese Weekend also has a bestselling Cross Over Maternity and Nursing top that allows discreet nursing access and looks nice too. There are definitely styles for all seasons with Japanese Weekend including tops that come in full sleeve length, ¾ sleeves, short sleeves and some sleeveless varieties.

If trendy is more your game, take a look at 1 in the Oven, a relatively new Beverly Hills brand on the market today, which has already been discovered by celebrities and fashionistas alike. 1 in the Oven's nursing tops are very soft and stretchy, easy to wear styles that fit many body types and always go well with a good pair of jeans. They also have their own version of a Cross Over Maternity and Nursing top with very discreet nursing access and an extra long length. Their shirred Maternity and Nursing Tube Top (which is actually fits like a tank) has a fun side tie sash and is super cute on. If you are a Henley style girl, they have both a ¾ sleeve and short sleeve nursing Henley in about every color under the rainbow. These top are 100% waffle weave cotton that stretches where you need it and are great for layering as well.

If loungewear is more your style for nursing clothes, you can't go wrong with the Majamas Brand which basically invented the nursing top. Their Reverse Cami with Sleeves comes in black and charcoal color varieties and is perfect anytime of the year with ¾ sleeves. There is also the Softest Top in Black which, as the name implies, is super soft and comfortable with nursing access. The Sleepy Dress and Cozy Dress are great tank style nursing and maternity dresses for spring or summer. Many women wear these styles year-round and layer with sweaters and leggings in colder weather. Majamas does have some new snazy short sleeve nursing top styles out there such as the Lexie Top, a super hip contrast black and white pattern, and the Khuli Top, a stylish top with adorable ruching detail which comes in a cool latte or black. Finally if you just need a pair of excellent nursing pajamas, you can't go wrong with the MJs or the Pajananaman which come in pewter, raspberry and black solids and a few patterns.

So whatever your style game, there are fashionable nursing clothes for you to choose from that will infuse a new ease and spirit into your new baby world. Once you are armed with fun and functional nursing clothes, it is much easier to face your day with a smile and a baby who will return the favor!