Rose Beds
Organic Rose Bed Maintenance
Back in the Totnes rose beds today. Just finished hoeing and mulching with some top-quality manure from Longcombe Garden Centre. Organic landscaping isn't just about how it looks on top—it's about feeding the soil underneath. The beds are weeded, fed, and ready for a late-summer show! 🌹 #TotnesGardening
Clearing weeds and grass from the base of a rose bush to reduce competition for nutrients.
Keeping Rose Beds Healthy
To keep your roses looking as good as these ones in Totnes, follow these three organic rules:
Hoe Regularly: A quick 5-minute hoe once a week disturbs weed seedlings before they can take root. It also breaks the soil crust, letting oxygen get down to the roots.
Mulch for Moisture: In our Devon climate, we can get dry spells followed by heavy rain. A 2-3 inch layer of organic manure or compost regulates soil temperature and stops the ground from baking hard.
Feed the Soil, Not the Plant: By using quality manure instead of synthetic pellets, you’re building long-term soil health. Healthy soil equals a plant that can fight off blackspot and aphids naturally.
Garden Maintenance service
Managing heavy clay and persistent weeds can be a chore. I provide expert Organic Landscaping and regular maintenance across Totnes to take the graft out of your gardening.
Need your beds sorted?
Fresh Manure, Happy Roses
Back at it in Totnes today. After getting the weeds under control yesterday, today was all about the "black gold." I headed over to Longcombe Garden Centre to pick up some of their well-rotted manure—it’s easily the best stuff in the area for breaking down our local clay.
I’ve hoed the beds through to get the air back into the soil and laid down a thick mulch. It looks clean, smells like a proper garden, and the roses are going to love it. Organic landscaping isn't just about the aesthetics; it’s about putting the fuel in the tank for that late-summer show.
There is nothing more satisfying than a freshly hoed and manured rose bed. Today’s job was simple but essential: clear the competition and feed the stars of the show.
I’ve used a rich organic manure from Longcombe to lock in the moisture and keep the weeds at bay. When you work with the soil instead of against it, the plants do the hard work for you. These beds are now officially ready for August.
If your garden needs a bit of this "right kind of attention," drop me a line.
The Soil First Method
Feeding the Roots
You can’t have a world-class bloom without world-class soil. Today in Totnes, I finished the "heavy lifting" on the rose beds. After a thorough weeding and hoeing, I’ve capped it all off with a layer of quality manure from the team at Longcombe.
This does two things: it stops the weeds from coming back the moment I turn my back, and it feeds the roses exactly what they need for a second flush of flowers. It’s the organic way—no chemicals, just good local nutrients.
The manure and the hoed soil, the bed looks deep and the contrast between the dark manure and the green rose leaves really pops!
Feeding the Beds with Manure
Following on from my last visit, I was back at the client's place in Totnes today to finish the job. While deadheading and weeding are the first steps to a healthy rose bed, what you put back into the soil is what really determines the quality of the next flush of flowers.
As you can see, the beds are looking pristine. I spent the morning hoeing the soil to ensure it’s loose and aerated. Once the ground was clear of every last weed, I applied a generous layer of well-rotted manure.
I always try to source the best local materials, so for this job, I used manure from Longcombe Garden Centre. It’s fantastic quality—rich, organic, and exactly what these roses need to thrive in our local Totnes clay soil.
Why this matters:
Suppresses Weeds: A thick layer of manure acts as a mulch, making it much harder for weeds to break through.
Retains Moisture: It keeps the roots cool and damp, which is vital during these warmer weeks.
Slow-Release Feeding: As it breaks down, it pumps nutrients directly to the roots, fueling those late-summer blooms.
It’s all about the preparation. By weeding, hoeing, and mulching today, these roses are set up for a brilliant end to the season.
If your borders are looking a bit hungry or the weeds are taking over, get in touch. Whether it's a one-off tidy-up or regular organic maintenance, I’m here to help.
Contact me at: kevin@totnesgardening.co.uk or via the Contact page.
Sorting Out the Roses
Spent yesterday at a client's place in Totnes, getting their rose beds back in shape. It’s that time of year – a quick, sharp tidy-up makes all the difference for a brilliant late-summer show.
There’s no secret to it. It’s just about doing the right things at the right time.
First job was a ruthless deadhead. You can’t be sentimental about it. Snip off all the old, spent blooms. It’s the only way to tell the plant to stop making seeds and get on with making new flowers.
Then, a proper clear-out around the base. Roses hate competition, so I got stuck into the Weeding until the soil was clear. Once the ground could breathe, I gave them a good feed. A proper meal to fuel the next lot of blooms. This is what good Organic Landscaping is all about – working with the plant, not against it.
And of course, a quick check for the usual troublemakers like blackspot. A bit of preventative care saves a load of hassle down the line.
It's not complicated. Roses aren't fussy. They just need a bit of the right kind of attention. That’s what my Garden Maintenance service delivers.
If your roses are looking a bit tired, give me a shout. We'll get them sorted.
You can reach me at kevin@totnesgardening.co.uk or through the Contact page.
How do I keep weeds out of my rose bed?
Mulching is the addition of a protective layer around the base of your roses. This process helps your roses to retain moisture, suppresses weeds and provides valuable nutrients for your roses as they grow.
