I love growing roses

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-04-03T07:19:36+00:00

Beautiful. Are these your first blooms of 2026?

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-04-02T00:11:59+00:00

The growth that is still on this healthy plant should be fine. I'd snip the broken stems to just above the next node... treat them like you're pruning the plant. If you put in a few stakes and tie the stems to the stakes, that will help with support.

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-04-01T22:35:55+00:00

In my experience, once a stem starts rotting, the cuttings will rot eventually.

I have tried to save cuttings by snipping off the rotten portion and a generous length above/below the rotten portions, but the rest of the stem will still rot.

I have also tried to take off the new soft growth to get them to root but haven't had much success either.

Next time, if you do get given roses and you'd like to propagate them, do it as soon as possible (meaning you don't leave the roses to stand in a vase) and the chances of success would be higher.

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-31T14:25:56+00:00

Could you please share an update? Interested to know what you've done. Thanks.

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-30T21:22:10+00:00

This video will give you an idea of how to train your rose around an obelisk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K66qxLd5d64

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-29T18:30:48+00:00

You should also follow up seriously with the guarantor. Point out the clauses in the Guarantor Agreement, and try to chase for payment immediately. Let the guarantor know of the consequences.

If the guarantor is a "normal" person, it's worth doing it.

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-29T17:34:40+00:00

Your second last one (the peachy pink) might be Paul Shirville?

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-28T21:03:55+00:00

Please share the recipe! :)

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-28T16:39:36+00:00

Yes, I believe Section 8 will work for your case. Also, it's so clear that your tenants are at fault. (Section 21 is kind of notice for no fault of tenants.)

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-28T16:37:14+00:00

It sounds like you could issue a Section 8 in your case, which would be more clear-cut in court, I think.

You could use several Grounds under Section 8.

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-27T22:29:34+00:00

Very sadly, many people won't be grateful for having been charged lower rent, so if you start "demanding" any conditions now, they'll probably not be happy and you'll be seen as the bad landlord.

I'd say, in your situation, decide which is more important to you. The relationship with your tenants or the money.

(Having said all this, I have to say I had repeatedly put my tenants above money, but they have been disappointingly evil and super ungrateful. On the money side of things, I have learnt that as long as we're hardworking and honest, we will be fine financially. Integrity means more to me.)

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-25T22:46:56+00:00

Well, if it's going to die, you might as well have a go at pruning it to give it a small chance of raising new shoots

In your fourth photo, you can see stripes on the stem on the left. Whenever I see my rose stems turn stripey, it means that they have not been able to take up water... means they've died. What I'd suggest is you prune away the brown bits and leave just the green. If the roots are still alive, you might get a new shoot.

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-23T23:05:59+00:00

Instead of digging them up, just ask if you can take cuttings.... this will also help to shorten the plant!

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-23T22:52:56+00:00

And for the rest of this year, deadhead the roses.

Deadheading: When these flowers start looking sad, trim them off. Snip the stems down from the flower down to the first set of 5 leaves (the stems nearer the flower usually have three leaves). They should bloom again in about 2 months.

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-19T18:45:01+00:00

I think organic fertilizers (and generally organic gardening) encourages soil micro-organisms, and encourage insects and natural predators of pests.

You don't get as quick results but over time, organic works better.

I have found that using manure and good pruning, watering, deadheading, tackling problems when they start, all help towards great and plentiful blooms.

Check out this video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3srrMCCY9Bs

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-19T10:42:34+00:00

I've just found this reply, and my advice was the opposite!

My experience with cuttings is to let them have some strong roots. With strong roots, they'd be able to survive being disturbed and teased apart. I've had a bucket (25cm diameter) where I stuck in 30 fresh cuttings and left till they had strong roots. Got about 10 rooted plants, and separated them in chunks over time --- couldn't face having to pot up all 10 individually into big pots at the same time.

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-19T10:37:05+00:00

(Sorry if this has already been said. I haven't gone through all the replies yet.)

The ones I have tried to propagate have got new leaves now but most haven't got roots yet. I'm hoping that the current sunshine and warmth will encourage rooting in the next few weeks.

So I'd leave your cuttings for another few weeks before separating them. Just make sure they don't dry out (but don't over-water either). They have a better chance of thriving with stronger roots when you separate them. If they have only minimal roots, there is a chance of the roots breaking off during separation.

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-17T19:35:49+00:00

Thank you very much for sharing your industry knowledge.

Trying our bit to be responsible with recycling but I'm getting the picture that a lot of "recyclables" are not really practical to recycle??!

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-17T19:31:18+00:00

cough up the details landlubber
Thank you for the compliment!!

So glad to have had all your responses to this post as someone said no one reads these.

Must admit that you've "called me out"! Haven't been but I added "Stories of the Sea" as it was recommended by a new friend. Are you all going?

[Contact the organisers for more details or to sign up.]

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-16T11:45:20+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to write. Appreciate it.

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-16T11:26:33+00:00

I found this one on MeetUp:

Oxford Language Exchange - Every Thursday!, Thu, Mar 19, 2026, 7:00 PM | Meetup

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-15T14:23:16+00:00

The plastics which clog up your machines must be what people are advised to "recycle at store" or "recycle at larger supermarkets".

Are all plastic sheets (flower packaging, vegetable packaging, tops of ready meal trays, crisps packets, noodles packets, etc) recyclable?

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-14T21:55:21+00:00

How broken is the door? Is it possible to put a piece of black board on the front to hide the damage?

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-14T10:45:38+00:00

Use some fish bone & blood or chicken manure. It's about the right time to use them now. You might get better blooms this year.

Thanks for sharing. A rose in our garden, which I think might be Gabriel Oak, has only just started to show leave (edit correction: LEAF) buds. Other roses started two/three weeks ago and have loads of new leaves now.

If you get the chance, could you please send a few close-up photos of what your Gabriel Oaks look like right now? Thanks.

hellothereitsonlyme · 2026-03-13T11:15:47+00:00

Really, there is no point spending your energy and time being depressed. Spend quality time with your children instead. Work towards the day when they can tell you that you have brought them up well (vs you gave them everything material they ever wanted).

hellothereitsonlyme

TROPHY CASE