My little austian copper rose got weed whacked. half to 1/3 of the top is gone. I watered it well and told staff.


Would hardwire cloth hurt the tool? I know it would protect the plant from rabbits, feral cats and weed whackers but before I get it would it break the whip?

The purpose of using a weed whacker is for the type of job you are describing! Yes, it might break off some of the string, but that is what it is designed for. Tap and go and more string comes out! You wouldn't want to use a metal blade to trim by a brick wall or a chain link fence, but a weed whacker is fine for those jobs. If ever who is using the weed whacker is cautious they won't even break the sting, of course if they had been cautious they would not have trimmed the rose.

Yeah its kinda sad, I will place it up plain for all to see. Staff told me if I keep up on weeding they wont have to weed whack as often. I think its worth a shot. We do get rabbits and feral cats so it might be a good idea anyway. I think it was mistook as a weed because its so small and has no flowers.


If it lives it will be very large though Austrain coppers get big. I spent over $30 on that rose so I hope it don't die. I have another species rose of a similar price that's doing much better.

Hey, if you keep up the yard yourself you won't need staff!!!

As much as I hate chemicals, I'm going to recommend you use some Preen around that rose. Get it weeded, apply the Preen, and buy a little short decorative fence section to encircle the rose. Something like this:
http://www.menards.com/main/bu...
There's others out there with a finer mesh that keep out rabbits and are still kind of decorative.
Whenever I've had anyone help me in the garden, I've had to mark unusual or small plants with big obvious labels or fences, and even then I've had them pulled, mowed, or whacked. If I'm trimming, I've cut plants because I got in a hurry and my mind wandered, so it happens. I've also blamed people for damage when really it was the rabbits doing the pruning. My dogs weren't doing their job, I guess!
When Austrian Copper gets bigger, it will get its revenge on the workers!

I agree some kind of decorative border. Our walmart here even has some little borders. they are inexpensive and you can just buy a package, not a whole lot. They have one that is white and looks like a picket pattern.

I attached some chicken wire around it to the chain link fence, its great although kinda gettoh, because all you have to do is take the wire off and then weed and then put the wire back.. its seemly better and i hope it puts out good growth next year.

I think it will be ok since no roots were damaged.

When I lived in my condo in San Diego, I grew some roses in back and the landscape crew were never careful when they used the weed whacker in that area. I tried all kinds of things, including the decorative fence, putting rocks around the base of the rose and weeding the area myself. Unless I was standing there watching them work, I always ended up with plant damage.

Since I knew which days they were coming, I finally bought a tomato cage and put over the plant. That sent the message loud and clear.

Of course, by that time I was ready to be less than polite.

When the roses got large enough, I was able to go back to using the decorative fencing suggested above.

Lyn

Yeah I feel you.... I think it got mistook for a weed because of the fact its small and has no flowers. Oh well Its doing much better I just hope the hardwire cloth doesn't get removed, I know it doesn't look the nicest. But I figure as long as I keep up with it/the garden it shouldn't matter too much.


Right now I'm doing a lot of clearing of stuff.

A blacksmith friend of ours makes "Sticky Wickets" for the garden... They're a little more pricey than something you'd find at Walmart... but they wouldn't go easy on a weed whacker
http://www.freedom-forge.com/w...

I am staff, I've never weed whacked a rose. I have damaged other plants and various siding with gas powered string trimmers. It's not a pleasant event for homeowner or service provider. Whack a cable line and kill internet? Whoa, that gets ugly fast... Bad can happen fast with a string trimmer, other tools as well. It's a given risk homeowner or hired out.

But for roses? If it's going to be a regular issue I'd recommend some iron fencing that protect the base and crown. Roses tend to fend for themselves but power tools, string trimmers in particular are a huge potential threat. Fencing can disturb some of the plant's beauty. JMHO, fencing is an option. Personally I'd consider fencing a last resort. I'd have a talk with "staff" before investing any money forward. No need to spend money on things you don't need or trash up your garden. Make your priorities clear to those you employ.

People do listen, sometimes you have to tell them twice and I can't defend failure.

JMHO and experience. As a homeowner who's hired "professionals" to tackle projects outside my realm? It's no fun. Mistakes, estimates that go double. It's not how I do business but once you're stuck you're stuck.

Deal with the owner and explain what is "unacceptable". Demand replacements.

I would. Honest truth.

Nice to hear from the other point of view!

i did place some hardwire cloth and it seems to be working.