Easy Way to Bag Rose Bush Clippings

Fall is just around the corner. I can feel it .... even though it's been above 90 degrees so far all this week. So the temperature hasn't cooled off much yet, it's still the beginning of September. Getting a head start on the outside clean up work seems appropriate, so I hit the front flowerbeds. (Either that or I'm just looking for something different than cleaning another bathroom... again!)

The flower beds have really gotted out of hand this summer. Both Knockout rose bushes I have LOVE where they are and grow like crazy. Big bonus since they fill the space and give us color all summer long. Downside?  It's always a challenge getting all the clippings in the yard bags and ready for trash day pickup. Those thorns hurt, friends!

Yesterday I had an 'aha' moment! 

Here's what I did:

Take one yard waste bag and open it up with some scissors. 

Lay it out close to where the clippings will be cut.

Start piling up the clippings within the bounds of the bag. 

Now you can roll one edge over the thorn filled clippings and really squish it all down. 

This step can be done several times until you feel like you have as much in the bag as possible.  The layers of paper the bag is made of helped add some much needed protection from thorns.

Next and final step will more than likely require an assistant. 

Gather up your nicely rolled up full bundle of stickery clippings and slide it into another (intact) yard waste bag. It was a little tricky getting it all tucked in and started- kinda like getting tights on a toddler.  But, once started, the rest of it just slides right in. 

No one to help lend a hand? Have some twine on hand and tie the bundle at both ends. This would hold it all together. Then lay it on the ground and work the second bag around one end and up the bundle of clippings. 

Try it out and let me know how it works for you!