Giraffe Long Reach Pruners come in various lengths, namely 5ft, 3ft and 1ft models.  This means that you can select the most suitable model to your needs, depending on whether you require a pruner that allows you to do close-up pruning, or one that gives you a very extended reach.

If you are trying to prune a rose bush, you might expect to be able to prune it without the need to resort to a long reach pruner.  However, trying to reach even a short distance into a rose bush can get you quite a few scratches on your arms.  However, with a  Giraffe 1-Foot Long Reach Bypass Pruner you allow the pruner to do the work.  Not only will the pruner cut the branch you want to prune, but it will grip the cut branch, pull it from the rose bush and allow you to deposit it in your pruning bin or barrow.  Moreover, all of this is done without you once having had to touch the branch.

The Giraffe 5-Foot Long Reach Bypass Pruner has similar attributes and it is suitable for pruning larger bushes and plants.  The Giraffe Pruners have shafts that are of a very solid construction, which means that they will not damage or bend easily, allowing you to prune with confidence.  Comfort of use is a high priority with Giraffe pruners also and all of the long reach pruners have comfortable handles and foam grips.

Many gardeners find the main advantage of long reach pruners is that in many instances it does away with the problem of having to use ladder.  This makes the pruning operation instantly much safer, because when you are pruning it is safer to have both feet on solid ground.

If you have large bushes, plants or hedging that need pruning, then the Giraffe 5ft long reach pruner is probably the implement that you should select.  This pruner means that you can stand comfortably back from the plant and with little effort prune the plant evenly and cleanly.  Gardeners constantly comment that they find the Giraffe pruning system better and safer than the rope-pull pruning system popular with other manufacturers.

Giraffe long reach pruners are understandably popular with serious gardeners.  They allow you to get on with the job of pruning the plants in your garden, without having to suffer from scratches from rose bushes, and allow you to do away with you having to use a ladder.  A Giraffe pruner is a quality item made in the USA, available on Amazon.com and all Giraffe pruners are available for Amazon Prime shipping.  So, what are you waiting for – get the best pruning equipment available!

This special day started in 1922 by a Herbert Kingston. Kingston wanted to show care and love for orphans who didn’t have parents to love them so he created Sweetest Day. Many well known actresses of that time joined in by helping and passing out candy to all the children.Sweetest Day is celebrated on the 3rd Saturday in October. Today many people keep the tradition alive by showing appreciation for loved ones but also remembering people, especially children, who need some loving attention.

Many people have carried on the tradition and keep Herbert Kington’s dream alive by spreading the love to all who need it. On this special day people like to show love and care to important people in their lives. Small gifts and cards cost a little comparable to how big a difference they can make in someone’s life. Candy and flowers are good gifts for adults, but children are more likely to enjoy sweets and small toys.

Still today many people donate gifts and presents to people who are in hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities. The important thing is not just the gift, but giving the gift of love and letting someone know you care.

I think that miniature roses and fine chocolates are ideal gifts for Sweetest Day. What do you think?

However, not every rose does well growing in a pot. Some of the roses that work in pots are: All that Jazz, Bonica, Green Rose, Peace, Perfume Delight,and Valentine. Your local garden store may be able to suggest others that will work well in your area. But you can try any sort that you would like, even climbers, and may be surprised at the results after learning how to plant potted roses.

How Plant Potted Roses

It is pretty simple to plant potted roses, as long as you are careful to do your planting in the Spring, after the threat of frost has been gone for awhile. Holding off until July and August are past is best if you live in a place where it is warm most of the time, since the heat could be too much for the roses to withstand.

• Make sure that when it is time to plant, you have a container that is the correct size, and has holes to allow water to drain out. Be sure to pick a container that will let your rose grow.
• Get you some soil from the garden, that also has a assortment of organic fertilizer or compost with it.
• Prepare a hole that is bigger than the rootball, shake of the excess dirt, then plant the rose.
• Dig a shallow moat or trench around the base of the rose that will hold water well.

There are diseases that both potted and garden roses can get very easily, and all roses have to be fed, watered, pruned and cared for no matter where they are planted. Although some people may think that a potted rose is easier to manage than a regular garden rose, it isn’t. Potted roses save space but still require maintenance. If you decide to treat your roses like any other potted plant, you will probably lose them.

The question about whether potted plants can be grown indoors is asked constantly. They can, but it is rather tricky, since roses need lots of direct sunlight as well as very high humidity. Since most homes are air conditioned, high humidity isn’t as much of a problem. If you do not have air conditioning, and live in an region of high humidity, your roses will still need lots of sunshine.

Miniature roses may be the best choice for indoor pots. All miniature roses have been bred to grow into smaller plants with little flowers. They are extremely pretty and thrive in pots.

If you are up to the challenge of learning how to plant potted roses, give it a go. For all you know, it may be more suitable for you than a typical rose garden.

Updated 9/16/09

According to the American Rose Society, the three main types of roses are the Species Roses, Old Garden Roses, and Modern Roses.

Species Roses

Species Roses, also known as “wild roses,” were the very first roses, predating man by hundreds of millennia. They are the ancestral root of all other classes of rose. They bloom annually, and their typical five-petaled blossoms are easily recognized. But watch out for thorns on these climbers or shrubs.

Found all over the northern half of the world, Species Roses thrive in moderate conditions.

Dog Roses, Redleaf Roses, Gallic Roses, Cherokee Roses, and French Roses are some popular varieties of Species Roses.

Old Garden Roses

Old Garden Roses are much younger than Species Roses. Any major rose variety classified prior to 1867 are considered Old Garden Roses.

Summer is heralded by the annual blossoming of many Old Garden Roses. Their shrubs and vines develop in many assorted sizes. Colors are varied as well, though normally Old Garden Roses have soft pastel or white blooms. Also known as “antique roses,” they don’t require extensive care, which makes them a favorite of amateur gardeners. Oftentimes, the most sought-after “antique roses” are chosen for their distinctive fragrant smell.

Hybrid Perpetual, Tea, Damask, Noisette, China, Bourbon, and Moss roses are just a few examples of the varieties of roses known as Old Garden Roses.

Modern Roses

Modern Roses are the newest class of roses, deriving from Old Garden Roses. Modern Roses include any variety of rose classified since 1867. Not only are they the most recently identified roses, they are also extremely popular. It is a cross breed of two separate but well-matched plants: the common polyanthus and the Tea Rose.

In contrast to the delicate colors of an Old Garden Rose, the Modern Rose is vivacious and full-bodied. Unlike Species and Old Garden Roses, with the proper care most varieties of Modern Rose will bloom more than once per season. This characteristic may be one of the reasons they are so appealing to horticulturists.

These roses are particular about their surroundings, preferring a warmer climate. Gardeners and florists are just crazy about Modern Roses.

Examples of well-known Modern Roses are the hybrid tea, grandiflora, and floribunda.

Roses are first placed in one of these three key groups. They are then categorized according to size, ancestry, color, blooming characteristics, growth habit, date of introduction, and scent.

Even with all the methods of classification, a horticulturists still cannot possibly identify every rose. Hybrid roses, for example, seem to fall into a class of their own.

Not every expert agrees on just one method of classifying roses. However, the system that seems to work the best is the one created by the American Rose Society. This may be why the American Rose Society’s rose classification method is used by the majority of the world’s rosarians.

Updated: 8/3/09

Of course you can pick roses right from your garden or at your local florist. But so many times, you can end up with roses that are in poor condition or die before they are ever opened. When you are looking at all those roses, how do you know which ones to choose?

First off, look for any brown spot on the petals. That is a sure sign that the rose is damaged and old.

After you check for brown petals, look at the sepals. Those are the green leaves shaped like spears that wrap around the bottom bud of the rose. If they are still curled around the rosebud, there is still some life in that rose. If they have separated and are closer to the stem, then that rose has a limited time span.

Next, feel the base of the rose, near the stem and the sepals. If the bud is very loose, or squishy, the rose is not very fresh. Also be cautious of a base that’s too hard. Then it’s possible that the rose will die before it ever blooms. Look for a base that’s firm with pedals that have just begun to open. That’s the rose that is most likely to bloom and last the longest.

But let’s not talk just about rose selection. Presentation is important for any gift. First, never send roses without a card. Read the card to make sure that it conveys your sentiments toward your loved one. Sending roses with another gift like chocolate, balloons, or jewelry is a nice touch.

If you like to send gift cards, add a personal note and roses for more personal and thoughtful gift that show you really care.

Follow these simple steps and you will pick the perfect rose every time to surprise your wife or mother with the perfect rose arrangement.