Mulching Hybrid Tea Roses

This Papa Meilland rose needs the crown protected from changing temperatures during the winter. A mound of free wood chip mulch from the Transfer Station is placed over the crown to a height of 12 inches.

I cut the stems back to 36 inches for the winter to reduce wind movement. A typical winter will kill these stems back to the mulch.

Come April, I will push the mulch off the crown and spread it around the ground by the bush.

Forcing Hyacinths

Several years ago, I purchased 3 forcing containers. I'm down to one. The bottom is filled with pebbles and some charcoal up to the waist. Roots are now forming and soon I will put it in the refrigerator for around 12 weeks. It then will be brought out to bloom. Once it does bloom, it needs to be kept in a cool location to make it last.

To learn more about forcing bulbs, see our publication at http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/hort2/mf2077.pdf