My Two Bob's Worth

Hi all. It's been a few days since i started a new post and i don't want you lovely rosarians out there to think i've up and died !! I have been doing a lot of reading and have been planning out how i'm going to prepare my new gardens for next year. I've decided to go organic but know this is not always possible. Firstly, i have access to unlimited amounts of horse manure. Knowing how much to use is the secret i think especially when planting new roses. It's well rotted by the time i get it !! In regards to the problem i may, or may not have, with these pesky cane grubs, i think i would rather hold off spraying and lose a few roses than kill any earthworms i have in the garden. As my son works for a rural supply company, i can get any amount of chemical to control them but if i have to spray i've heard about a product called "Confidor" that's a systemic spray. Apparently it works quite well on cane grubs. I tend to agree with Roseman that the beetle of the cane grub is the old Christmas beetle we all know. At least with a systemic spray i'm not going to kill everything in the garden. Any thoughts ??
Lastly, i'm thinking about a product to fertilise the roses with (amongst others) that's cheap and easily obtained up here. It's called "mill mud" and is a waste product from a sugar mill and i believe that it is very high in potash. We have Marian sugar mill just up the road where i worked for a number of years. Mill mud is a combination of many things that all come together at the back of the mill. Firstly, it has a lot of fine fibre that has been removed from the juice as well as soil that comes in on the cane before crushing. It also contains a lot of ash from the boilers. Bagasse, which is the fibre from the cane after it has been crushed, is fed into the boilers to supply steam to the many turbines around the mill. The end product is a black, sandy mudlike product that when dry, can blow away in the wind. It is trucked out to the cane paddocks by the thousands of tons during the season. I'm ever mindful that it has to be "aged" for at least 6-12months before applying as it's quite strong, but it is well known with vegie gardens up here that mill mud will grow hair on a billiard ball !!!! Anyway guys, it would be interesting to hear your thoughts on the above.

Wedge, "Confidor" is systemic. I think you will find it is for above ground use. It is made by "Bayer', A German company I think. Why not email them ask them the Q and see if "they" think it will enter the root system and kill your cane grub
On the horse manure thing and millmud bring it home, wet it, make it sweat like a normal composting method, even cover it with plastic to ramp up the heat, not sure of correct temp, Mr Google will know,start this now and if memory serves me right a pinch of lime.

Roseman, that's probably very good advice. Millmud has been around for a very long time up here and everybody knows of it's worth as a fertiliser. You just have to be aware that it will burn plants very easily if used straight from the mill. It's just like a good wine....it has to age. Hehehe...just like you and me bud !!!

wedge wrote:... It's just like a good wine....it has to age. Hehehe...just like you and ...:

I can also 2nd this...., the 1952' one is really a very great vintage

I can assume then we are the elders of this forum

Speak up grandpa, i can't hear ya !!! Yes mate, 1952/53 was a very good vintage, if not a little "fruity" !!! On a serious note, we are getting a gusty,hot NW wind here this morning. They normally come this time of the year and they proceed a front that will come through from the south. Hopefully it will bring a storm or two as it hasn't rained here for months and months. I'm sure it's not doing my roses any favours as they are all planted on that side of the house. I have a climber "A Shropshire Lad" that has flowered for the first time this morning....very nice !!!

roseman wrote:I can assume then we are the elders of this forum

Only academically speaking, David!

Chronologically I am a strong contender for the title! LOL

C'mon Dave, are'nt you going to respond ?? (This outta be good !!) Lol.

Wedge, I will reply tonight on this and sort out away that we do not win or loose, Val is a dear friend to this computer with Carole and myself. if I send lots of these, Val might let us win

I'm with you Roseman !! I value Val's knowledge of roses too much !!

Aw you guys are too nice!!
I bow to your superior wisdom and knowledge, and yes, you can win!

Roseman, may i take this opportunity and offer some advice ?? TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN SON !!!!!

Hi Dave, I'm totally organic, would like to try some of that Mill Mud.
Do you know anyone that bags and sells it like they do with sugarcane mulch?

Hi Bruce. Mill mud has been used up this way for a long, long time. It's trucked straight from the mill and spread back onto the cane paddocks. Apparently it's very high in phosphorous and potash. If you'd like some, i'm sure i could bag some and send it down. We'll work out some details when i come to visit hey ??

roseman wrote:Wedge, I will reply tonight on this and sort out away that we do not win or loose, Val is a dear friend to this computer with Carole and myself. if I send lots of these, Val might let us win

David, that sounds like from the lips of 'Don Juan'.....a typical 'early 50 vintage' statment

Bernhard, you are right, I wish there was a icon of someone crawling as I could use it a lot. I f I could show my knees they would tell the story. On the other hand I don't mind puckering up either.

Dave, could you keep the "puckering up" to a bare minium when i come to visit sweetheart ??

"Sigh"
I guess I'll have to settle for some of these!

As a famous man once said Val....."And that, i'm sorry to say, is your lot for today" !!!

ROFL!!!

It seems you are home during the day just like me Val. I come to my computer every time i have a break in the garden, so your replies/posts are eagerly sort after as everyone else is at work etc. I'd like one every half hour or so thanks !!! I go to work late afternoons and get home around 11pm. Cheers...Dave.

Haha!! I'm retired Dave, so happy to say no work! I'm the same as you, every break from gardening I'm here. Today I go to Water Aerobics from 12 till 1.30 so I'll be missing! At the moment I'm uploading photos.
You'll be gone when I get back. Cheers,
Val

Bemo, Don Juan, what a great rose. I have one that is only a baby but up the road a couple of K's there is a beauty. I eat my heart out every time I compare theirs with mine. Unfortunatly it does get Blackspot here but will still grow it for spring and autumn blooms.
I agree with Dave there are roses so magnificent spring and autumn blooms are very worthwhile

Dave, would love to have a look at Mill Mud and try it on one rose.
Might not be economical but a small bag sent by mail would be worthwhile.

Never know what is lacking in soil until the missing ingredient is trialled.

Thanks once again.

Ozeboy wrote:Bemo, Don Juan, what a great rose. ....

indeed, David woud have much more healthier knees, if he had used more of this roses into his actions.
But what count at least is the success

from breeding aspects, I like to work with 'Sympathy', as you know 'DJ' was the pollen donor.

cheers Bernhard