Replant disease solution

New method could save a lot of hard work, says Peter

- Peter Seabrook

TWO newly planted rose beds are establishing well, in spite of some quite demanding weather. Both are from bare-root bushes, set out earlier this year when the heavy soils were pretty wet and not in the ideal condition for planting.

One in my own front garden replaces a rather worn-out bed of Rose ‘Bonica’ that had given good service for 40 years. In its place, I have planted one of the new disease-resistant, fragrant and ‘good for cutting’ varieties, Rose ‘Timeless Charisma.’ It is from the Florist Series, and to overcome the possibility of replant disease I swapped the soil with some from the vegetable garden.

“I could have saved moving 30 barrow loads of soil!”