Gypsum-Land Plaster
Reprinted from New York Chapter Newsletter
In past years, R. 'Cheer' (Shammarello hybrid) was quite a disappointment in our garden. Though we certainly liked its lovely blotched pink flower, it never lasted long enough to please us. Last year I mentioned this to Bill Bowden, soil expert extraordinaire, and he suggested the use of gypsum as an aid to preserving flower color. WOW! this year the flowers remained in peak condition for two full weeks. This fall everything in our garden will get a handful of gypsum.