Comments on: Why the Rose Garden stinks http://blog.blithewold.org/roses/whythe-rose-garden-stinks/ a garden journal about public garden maintenance, seasonal tasks, garden events, stories about gardening, volunteers, flowers, bugs and wildlife Sat, 25 May 2013 00:22:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: blithewold.org » Blog Archive » Days of whine and roses http://blog.blithewold.org/roses/whythe-rose-garden-stinks/comment-page-1/#comment-11958 blithewold.org » Blog Archive » Days of whine and roses Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:05:52 +0000 http://blog.blithewold.org/?p=4185#comment-11958 [...] Last fall we amended the soil with compost, which has almost instantly (if winter counts as an instant) improved our compaction problem. But even better, an irrigation system, generously and anonymously donated, and installed this spring has finally slaked their thirst. – They need at least an inch of “rain” a week for optimum health. We will continue to refuse to use chemistry to combat any pests or disease but honestly, I don’t think we’d even need to. Enriched soil with good drainage and regular watering to push the soil’s nutrients to the roots will keep the roses stress-free and lovely and as close to perfection as we think any gardener or garden visitor could possibly want. (And thank goodness, we won’t ever have to whine about spending hours watering the Rose Garden again!) [...] [...] Last fall we amended the soil with compost, which has almost instantly (if winter counts as an instant) improved our compaction problem. But even better, an irrigation system, generously and anonymously donated, and installed this spring has finally slaked their thirst. – They need at least an inch of “rain” a week for optimum health. We will continue to refuse to use chemistry to combat any pests or disease but honestly, I don’t think we’d even need to. Enriched soil with good drainage and regular watering to push the soil’s nutrients to the roots will keep the roses stress-free and lovely and as close to perfection as we think any gardener or garden visitor could possibly want. (And thank goodness, we won’t ever have to whine about spending hours watering the Rose Garden again!) [...]

]]> By: Layanee http://blog.blithewold.org/roses/whythe-rose-garden-stinks/comment-page-1/#comment-8945 Layanee Mon, 25 Oct 2010 15:21:02 +0000 http://blog.blithewold.org/?p=4185#comment-8945 You are lucky to have such a facility with all the testing etc. Free also. So, is the smell like sewage? Good with the bad, I guess. I have been adding compost to the beds. It is a never ending task here. It is a good workout especially when the tire on the wheelbarrow gets low. :) <em>Layanee, The smell is kind of reminiscent of ... barnyard. Slightly unpleasant but definitely not as foul as any kind of backed-up sewer sort of odor. And you're right about the exercise. I don't think I've ever gotten such a good workout - Gail called it "power gardening". -kris</em> You are lucky to have such a facility with all the testing etc. Free also. So, is the smell like sewage? Good with the bad, I guess. I have been adding compost to the beds. It is a never ending task here. It is a good workout especially when the tire on the wheelbarrow gets low. :)

Layanee, The smell is kind of reminiscent of … barnyard. Slightly unpleasant but definitely not as foul as any kind of backed-up sewer sort of odor. And you’re right about the exercise. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten such a good workout – Gail called it “power gardening”. -kris

]]> By: Chookie http://blog.blithewold.org/roses/whythe-rose-garden-stinks/comment-page-1/#comment-8928 Chookie Sat, 23 Oct 2010 05:33:51 +0000 http://blog.blithewold.org/?p=4185#comment-8928 The stinkier the compost, the better it is. You are so lucky to have forward-thinking people making it and keeping it free. I don't think we recycle any sewage sludge here at all, and Sydney has four million plus people. <em>Chookie, that's a lot of sewage... Judging by how big the facility is for our tiny town, Sydney would need miles upon miles of windrows. I do feel lucky - I really had no idea Bristol was so progressive. (And I live here.) -kris</em> The stinkier the compost, the better it is. You are so lucky to have forward-thinking people making it and keeping it free. I don’t think we recycle any sewage sludge here at all, and Sydney has four million plus people.

Chookie, that’s a lot of sewage… Judging by how big the facility is for our tiny town, Sydney would need miles upon miles of windrows. I do feel lucky – I really had no idea Bristol was so progressive. (And I live here.) -kris

]]> By: Susan Sims http://blog.blithewold.org/roses/whythe-rose-garden-stinks/comment-page-1/#comment-8918 Susan Sims Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:30:10 +0000 http://blog.blithewold.org/?p=4185#comment-8918 Mmm...bio solids. You can get it for free? I have to pay for it. It's still a better deal than anything else around here. I sometimes wonder what all the hormones/anti-depressants/statins in the compost are doing for the plants. I don't put it in the vegetable garden for these reasons. <em>Susan, it's funny - I was just wondering about the pharmaceuticals... We're not going to use it on our veg bed either but I know lots of people who do. -kris </em> Mmm…bio solids. You can get it for free? I have to pay for it. It’s still a better deal than anything else around here. I sometimes wonder what all the hormones/anti-depressants/statins in the compost are doing for the plants. I don’t put it in the vegetable garden for these reasons.

Susan, it’s funny – I was just wondering about the pharmaceuticals… We’re not going to use it on our veg bed either but I know lots of people who do. -kris

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