The baboons won!

What was our walled vegetable garden has been transformed into our walled rose garden as we have fought an unwinnable battle with the baboons getting over the electric strands and raiding the vegetables. They are not deterred by a 9,000V jolt! They don’t mind eating unripe vegetables so we cannot pick our vegetables when just ready for eating as the baboons have got there first.

So, with a lot of problem solving we ripped out all the fruit and vegetables and have planted 200 rose bushes instead. Hopefully they will give as much joy as being able to pick our fresh vegetables for the table every day. We do still have another vegetable garden totally enclosed with bird wire so we can still have fresh berries and vegetables – but just not as many! Our climate here in the Drakensberg is ideal for rose growing as we get rain in summer and cold winters during their dormant times.

Our planting method

Dig a generous hole and scatter in a handful each of bone meal and 8:1:5

Mix in 2 large double handfuls of home-grown compost and mix all the above with soil

Plant the rose bush to the same height as the nursery bags and fill the hole with more soil and compost – well mixed

Make a well around the bush

Scatter a handful of Epsom salts and more 8:1:5 around the drip line

Water in well with 20 Lt of rainwater or water from the river – if possible.

Roses all bought from Ludwig’s Roses in Pretoria.

Thank you, Ludwig, for your help and great efficient service!

Do you have a special rose that you love? Let me know the name and colour.