Last rose for the front yard.. here's my new Betty Boop. She's in a nice happy place in front of the trunk of my old juniper that I chopped down last year (I have 2 honeysuckles and that Banks rose for climbing over the stump).

In the back, I have only 2 roses worthy of taking pictures of right now. I have SOOOOOOOOOO many weeds in the back.. I spent 2 hours last night weeding and filled up a 60gal garbage bin. I guess technically, they're not just weeds, but mostly grass. I spent 4 years trying to get grass to grow, I decided this year I was giving up on grass & just doing roses & shrubs.. and I have grass all OVER the place!!! I've managed to get most of the wild clover out of the yard, but now thistles are sprouting everywhere, plus pigweed. And, since it's been either 95degs+ and hot, or 70degs & rain rain rain, everything's gone from 2-3" to 2-3FEET in about a week. I have NO idea where all the tumbleweeds have sprouted from.. heck, I have no idea where ANYTHING is sprouting from!!! and they're taking over!! Luckily it rained for about 2 hours yesterday morning so pulling was super easy. Plus planting was a breeze, so I put in 7 new roses (Honey Perfume, Honey Dijon, Intreped Red, Angel Face, Molineux, Charisma (actually transplanted a RedGold to a different spot & put the Charisma in it's spot), and one other I can't remember who), plus the balloon flowers, the two cardinal flowers, and two delphiniums. That side of the yard is a major work in progress. However, on the other side, I'm almost able to keep it under control.

Here's Pure Perfume. Last year, I didn't get a single bloom. This year, I've gotten a few, but they're always pretty low to the ground and so I have to practically get on my hands and knees to get a good picture. I think this one is saying "HI!!!!!!!!!!!"

Last of the rose shots.. here's Oklahoma. Didn't have to get on my hands and knees.. this one is about 4' tall.

Not rose pictures, but my daylilies are finally starting to take off. Here's one of them.. I have no idea on who it is. I only know the names of like 2-3 and I have 6-8 of them.

With this set, I know that the darker maroon are "Pardon Me", the yellow/gold is Aztec Gold, the red off to the right is like Comanche Red or something like that, plus now the new one in the center.

Sky Kittie, have you ever considered using a Pre-emergent? It's awesome for keeping weed seeds from germinating, and you only have to spray it once evey 6 months. I use it in my desert landscaped areas. Haven't had to pull weeds for years.

alan

Alan - I'm about ready to sell my soul to the devil (wait, I already did that to get my cat his surgery.. wonder if he'd take a slightly abused body instead?) to get rid of all of these WEEDS!! I'm trying to get them down to 2-3" (will be weedwacking the heck out of the back yard this weekend) so I can lay down the weedblock then spread that veritable mountain of mulch out of my driveway. I doubt it, but I'm aiming to get 1/2 of it all moved on Sunday. I've noticed, though, that weeds seem to grow on TOP of the weedblock, especially with the bird seed I buy. Oops. However, much more easier to keep under control that way as the roots aren't deep. I've tried the All Season (I think that's what it was) for my driveway.. I swear that the weed that is growing between the cement blocks just drinks the stuff like KoolAid.

To get rid of the weeds from bird seed, used hulled bird seed. I feed the birds homemade peanut butter suet and cracked sunflower seeds already shelled. The pre-emergent I use is

Weed Impede® (Surflan®)
formerly Weed Stopper®

http://www.montereylawngarden....

Most professional landscapers use this as well. It's concentrate, you have to spray it with a sprayer. I like it because it is bright yellow, so you can see where you spray it. Best to spray it right before a rain. If no you have to water it in. Awesome stuff. I get it at home depot -- H EY! there's that name again!!!

I've been using it for 10 years now. This stuff works! But you must spray it every 3-6 months.

Oh, one other comment. Also, you can spray this on the roses, and it won't hurt them.

alan

I've never seen any of these at our local Home Depots.. probably something I'll have to get through their website. THANKS! Anything that'll control the foxgrass will be WELL worth it.. I've already had to spend over $600 on vet bills because the damned foxgrass seeds always get embedded into one of my dog's pawpads.. and then we had to do surgery to get it removed!! GAH!

Actually, I just checked out all of their locations here in Colorado and the place where I get my propane for my grill sells it. Yay! Down to Littleton I go!