After I cut my lovely rose bushes I noticed the fence behind them needed a face lift. The fence is old and partly rotten, but ain’t nobody got time or money to build a new fence! I decided to do just a small face lift by painting the red part (other side is on neighbour’s side). But first: mold wash.
Mold and moss can be unsightly and damaging to wood if left untreated. Fortunately, washing them away is a relatively simple process that can be done using a bleach detergent. Here’s how to do it:
Protect the surroundings – and yourself
Before you begin, remove any objects or furniture near the wooden surface and protect the surrounding area to prevent flowers etc. from getting damaged. I didn’t do this so likely my rose bushes are dead now. You should also use protective rubber gloves and safety glasses (the substance is usually a strong, chlorine-containing detergent).
Prepare the bleach detergent
Dilute the detergent with water according to the instructions on your package (depending on the product). I used Detroid mold wash from Puuilo (Finland). My lovely husband bought it for me as a birthday gift. She really knows what woman needs!
Brush and let it sit
Read the instructions of your product because the absorption time may vary depending on the brand. I applied the detergent with a paint brush. I let it sit for couple of minutes. This will give the bleach time to sink in and break down the mold and moss.
Scrub and rinse
I watered the treated area with a watering can (because there was no hose or pressure washer nearby) and brushed all the moss and mold away – except the neighbour’s side because I didn’t want to go into their rose bushes to do it..
Once you have scrubbed the surface clean, rinse it thoroughly with water to remove remaining bleach. If you use a pressure washer, use it with very low pressure.
Let it dry
I’m going to let the fence dry for a couple of days and I will wait for a warmer weather before painting the fence – because Finland and -4 Celsius this morning.
In conclusion, washing mold and moss from a wooden surface with a bleach detergent is a simple process. But again, if you don’t want to get blind or get serious skin damage, protect your eyes and hands. And roses.
Rose bushes are a beautiful addition to any garden. However, if they look like in my yard (see the picture) they have become overgrown or diseased, and need to be cut down to the ground. If you’re unsure of how to do this, don’t worry. So am I.
In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the process of cutting rose bushes to the ground so that they will grow again. I don’t know anything so I will just tell you what my neighbour taught me.
Choose the right time
The best time to cut rose bushes down to the ground is – in some countries – late winter or early spring, just before new growth appears. For me the time was in the end of April, but this depends on your climate. In Finland, it can snow or be +20 Celsius, so you never know at this time of the year.
Prepare your tools
Before you start cutting your rose bushes, make sure you have the right tools. You’ll need a pair of sharp, clean pruning shears or loppers, as well as thick gloves to protect your hands from spikes. It’s also a good idea to disinfect your tools with rubbing alcohol or bleach to prevent the spread of disease. I didn’t know this because I use alcohol for different purposes.
Cut the rose bushes to the ground
First, you can remove any dead, damaged, or diseased branches. Next, cut all of the remaining branches down to the ground. Make sure to cut at a 45-degree angle to prevent water from pooling on the cut ends. The lenght of the cut ends should be around 10 cm. Some sources say 20 cm. My neighbour said 5 cm. So my tactic was to try all lengths and hope some of them will survive.
Water and Fertilize
After cutting your rose bushes down to the ground, it’s important to water them deeply (if the rain doesn’t do the job) and fertilize them. This will provide the plants with the nutrients they need to produce new growth.
Wait for new growth
Then it’s time to wait for new growth to appear. This can take a few weeks to a few months, depending on your climate and the health of the plants. Be patient, in Finland, the new growth will probably be more visible next spring.
In conclusion, cutting rose bushes down to the ground can be a daunting task, but it’s a necessary one if you want to ensure healthy, beautiful plants. Or: you might be just guessing what your doing and they will never grow back! I will tell you next year how did it go.
Hi there! My website is now as unfinished as my yard but I will get there..
What is this blog about:
We built a new home to a very old yard and the whole scenery at the moment is a mess of construction site and overgrown, old garden.
I have no experience of any kind of garden and yard work but I will try to learn by doing!
The process is going to be long as me and my husband work full time and we have two small kids, so I will spend all my “free time” (?!) on this project.
Welcome to follow this, disastrous project here in the blog and also in my social media channels: TikTok & Instagram!
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