Show Date: 15 Sep 09
The carpet rose has to be near the top of my top 5 list of favorite shrubs. It’s really more like a ground cover as it doesn’t grow tall but sprawls and blooms continuously.

Carpet Roses

Although a zone 5 plant, it has tolerated many a cold winter with just snow as a mulch. It helps to plant carpet roses in a microclimate such as near your home where the heat from the house keeps the ground a bit warmer too.

For Zone 3 folks check out this list of hardy roses:  Canada Hardy Roses [U of MN]

Show Date: 6 Aug 09

What to do when the weeds are winning?  Renovate! 

Dig up those great plants, “heel” them into another area, use a total vegetation killer to rid your bed of those weeds and then replant. 

Heeling in your plants simply means that you dig an unplanted area and give your plants a temporary home while you renovate.  You could also leave them in pots if you have enough. 

 The idea is to give them a fighting chance by saving your good plants and knocking out those pesky weeds.  Read the label directions on the chemical you choose to know when you can start replanting.  Round Up is probably the most widely known total vegetation killer.