• Photo by Martha from The Contained Gardener
• Growing Roses

It’s Time to Prune your Roses!

Pruners: Bypass pruners that work similar to scissors. Anvil type pruners will crush your rose stems.

Pruning:
• Remove the top 1/2 to 2/3 of the rose bush.
• Remove any dead canes and small twiggy growth.
• Remove any canes that are crossing through the middle of the bush or rubbing against other canes.
• Make your cuts about 1/4 inch above bud eye that is facing out from the center of the bush.
• Strip all leaves from the canes.

Cleanup:

• Clean up all the old dead leaves and throw them in the trash, not your compost pile. Dead leaves can often have mildew spores and other diseases on them that can infest your compost pile and create problems later on.

Feed:
Do not fertilize your roses this month.

Water:
Continue to water your roses, once or twice a week depending on the daytime temperatures. Be sure you are deep watering to a depth of 18 — 24 inches. Roses in pots typically need to be watered more often than roses in the ground.

Now that our first freezes are through - at least for the moment, you still have time to plant your winter potted garden.

• Picture by Marylee
• Snall In Tucson?

• Marylee celebrating a recent birthday!

Have a great weekend!! Don't forget - this is a great time to plant your winter annuals for days filled with living color!

I picked up the most interesting tidbit while interviewing the CEO of Old Tucson the other day.

Pete Manglesdorf said he's planning to add a two-acre garden to the theme park and movie set. Old Tucson recently added 12 new buildings and a small mock-up of a Tohono O'odham village complete with a native garden, and Manglesdorf would like to eventually expand the garden to the point where it could produce a decent amount of vegetables.

He's in league with the right people. The San Xavier Farm Cooperative helped Old Tucson install the first garden, and would be a great organization to team up with to increase the size of the operation.

One word of caution - don't mix too many colors in one arrangement. You want your eye to rest when you go outside and calm your brain. An overabundance of colors can be confusing and distract your sense of well-being.

Have fun and don't forget to water them well after planting!

Be sure to email me with your questions - anything potted!

Less is More

When you are planning your potted garden, keep in mind that often “less is more.” You want to make sure you follow my suggestion that I gave you last week with using the biggest pots that fit in the area you are placing them. We highly recommend that you do not plant anything in the sun smaller than an 18” inside diameter. This is so there is enough soil to insulate the roots and hold moisture to keep the plants healthy.

• A "Trio' of Pots creates a lovely focal point

Your mind and eye will find that one or three pots is much more restful and enjoyable. Also, these larger pots, once placed will be easier to take care of.

We chose Tucson to live and enjoy the outside. I do not want you to become a slave to your pots!!

How do you start planning for your outdoor living spaces and enhance them so they are a joy?

• Marylee, The Contained Gardener
• Shady Front Door Corner - Winter Planting

Each of these ideas can be handled well with pots and living art! Be sure to get the biggest pot or set of pots that fits the area. Get out your tape measure and check the size you need. Then head out to your favorite pottery store. Be sure to check their website for coupons!

Check back next week for the next step!

Before we leave September, be sure to do your fall rose pruning. Roses cut back in September will give you a wonderful fall blooming period. Bushes should be cut back by about 1/3. Clean up any debris under the shrubs and start fertilizing again, applying a time release and/or organic fertilizer now, watering it in well, then begin a bi-weekly application of a water-soluble fertilizer through November.

A little work now will bring you great rewards until we hit our first frost!! If you have any questions, be sure to email me!

My first entry in the world of Tucson Weekly's Blogosphere! How could I resist using my tagline of "Get Potted with Marylee"? The Contained Gardener designs, installs and maintains potted gardens for homes and businesses all over Tucson.

In order to help you stop throwing your money in the compost heap, you are invited to my Free upcoming classes on potted gardening. For complete descriptions of the classes, visit my website. You can register there or email me.

Saturday, September 17
8:30 AM Enhance Your Outdoor Living Spaces with Pots
9:30 AM Successful Planting in Pots

Saturday, September 24
8:30 AM Shopping for Plants with Confidence
9:30 AM Potted Garden TLC

I work with a lot of Tucson Originals restaurants. Anyone who attends my classes will be entered to win a gift certificate to one of our local eateries. And - everyone who attends will get discounted offers from us for your home's potted gardens.

Stay tuned for what's next as we all get Tucson potted!