Great resolutions, JJ! However, I can see a definite problem with that first one, lol!

I just want to be able to maintain what I have in good order this year. I have some room and I got rose money for Christmas so I will be adding a few. But I really need to just keep things weeded and clean this season. Last spring I had so much to dig out and replace that I got way behind on the other stuff and never really caught up with it.

I will definitely add yours to my list as well Seil. I find start weeding in early spring before they spread in the summer helps. But weed is part of gardening, all part of the "fun".

Mine is simple. Finish ordering the few roses that I want in the spring and finish bordering all the beds. Probably do 2 rose shows this year. One in the spring and one in the fall. Talk roses with anyone that will listen and keep the roses at the church I attend in good shape.

Here's mine:

1. Get the beds cleaned up this time.

2. Do more mulching and fertilizing.

3. Get rid of under-performers and plant some of the many potted roses in their places.

My list is simple as well:

1. Increase mulching and fertilizing

2. After the spring flush, evaluate every plant in the garden, toss out roses that still aren't doing well after three years in the ground, and fine-tune the overall garden design.

3. Pray for rain.

Ingrid

This will be my second year with young roses. I didn't fertilize much the first year, so I have a resolution to follow a fertilizing program this year. Here is a video from Loren Nancarrow with a recipe I will try. I was sorry to learn that Loren passed away, but his advice lives on. He has other videos where he offers environmentally friendly pest solutions. My second resolution will be to pass up those cute grocery store minis, although I'm not sorry that I bought a few last year. I'm looking forward to watching my garden fill in with more foliage and blooms.

Here is a link that might be useful: Top ten secrets-Loren Nancarrow

Mine would be the same as Beth's and Ingrid's on the mulching and fertilizing, especially on the mulching! Generally, just be more attentive to the overall maintenance and upkeep of my rose beds. Try to figure out which Austins to plant, because I really want a few, but I am having a difficult time deciding.

Sara, that's my problem with the Austin's too. I have two yellow ones and would love some other colors but I can never decide which ones, lol!

Oh I love this thread! My resolutions are to:

1 - Not panic everytime my roses have PM or BS and cut the canes off. Did that last summer a few times...

2 - Get all my roses ordered before May so I can get them planted early... last year I was buying roses all summer long and was still planting them in September.

3 - Keep track of my receipts so when things don't make it I can get plants replaced. I'm really bad about this.

4 - Order David Austins for the garden beds along my house. 2 ordered... 4 to go.

5 - Add roses to my big pollinator garden to provide some height... plus more roses!

That's all I can think of right now, but I'm sure there is lots more I should be doing.

Kill the rose midges in my garden.

My resolution is for the winter months - I resolve to try to stay calm when my roses freeze & look like they're not going to make it thru the icy weather. Last winter & beginning of spring I was in a total panic. I ended up losing 9 out of 21 roses & this was after winter protecting them. I totally did not enjoy the 2014 rose season even though I bought new roses.

I want to enjoy whatever happens; if I have to buy new roses to replace the ones that don't make it, so be it.

View, you really can't go by last winter...I hope. That was a really brutal one and many of us lost a lot of roses as a result. This winter seems to be more average, so far, and knock wood that I didn't just jinx that, lol.

Here in NY we got our first inch of snow today & temps in the 20s. I sure hope you're right seil about this being an average winter. And no, I really don't think you jinxed anything, just trying to be optimistic.

I was too busy taking care of my wife last season, who recently passed from ALS, but it looks like I only lost one rose, an own root HT single that never really got going in the first place--out of over 200 roses. All I had time for was to cover them with burlap.

So sorry for your loss zach.

My resolution is to get every potted rose in the ground so I don't have to do the pot polka, in the garage/basement when it gets cold, back out again when it isn't. With temps going down to the teens tonight, I still have some pots to bring it. I have all the ones upstairs in the garage and I tried to get all the ones in the backyard in the basement last night, but the light has apparently burned out so I will have to go out there this AM to see what is left (and change the light bulb).

Zack, I'm so sorry to hear about your wife's passing. Truly sad news.

Mine is to get the rose seed I was given to actually grow into rose plants. I've had no success with that so far.

My condolences Zach. She will live on in your mind and heart. May she be somewhere where roses are forever beautiful and forever lasting.

My resolution would be keep the camera ready and take plenty of pictures! Next December I want to be able to contribute to the 12 Days of Christmas. I did enjoy the thread.

Zach, my condolences for your loss.

Well Seil, you are right, I broke my first resolution already. lol. It is nice to look back and see what everyone thoughts was and is now.

Zach, sorry about your loss.

I just sprayed Grass B Gon last night, not sure if it worked, grass is not gone yet.....now I think I'd like to find an idea on how to kill a rabbit, a big fat rabbit, ate all my roses. I'd like to use less chemical spray on my roses later, but I need to clear the bugs, grass in my rose gardens first, at least for the front yard. For the back yard I will try chemical free after I spray the weed killer tomorrow, don't like weeds.

Oh we got those rabbit problems a few years ago until my dad barricaded the whole yard with chicken wire from top to bottom. That solve the problem. Sure the fence is an eye sore but at least we get to admire the roses and vegetables...lol.

You know jjpeace, the chicken wire is perfect for clematis to climb! We are building a fence out of wood posts and chicken wire this summer to keep the rabbits and my dogs out. The only thing that makes me okay with this ugly fence is that I can grow clematis on it!