Plant Talk |
CAUTION:The information and recommendations in this article are applicable to Harnett County, NC and may not apply in other areas.
THE MAGICAL WORLD OF ROSES, June 20, 1997
I can think of no flower that evokes as much passion and sentiment as the rose. And probably no gardener is more passionate than the rose grower. And this is as it should be, because roses require a tremendous amount of TLC.
There are many different types of roses, so you can almost certainly find one to suit your needs. The traditional hybrid teas can be spaced in beds, or planted as single specimen plants. Climbers can be trained over an arbor or fence. Patio roses can be grown in a pot on your porch or deck. There are even low growing ground cover roses. And this is only the beginning.
Whichever type you choose, they will need full sun (6 hours per day, minimum) and good soil. Since roses are best planted in the spring or fall, now would be an ideal time to take a soil sample in preparation for fall planting. If you must plant now, be sure to water during hot, dry weather.
Dig up the soil to a depth of at least 12", mixing in the lime recommended in your soil test report. Decomposed organic matter such as manure or compost can also be added. As with any plant, proper soil preparation will reduce future problems.
Roses must have good drainage, so if your soil is wet a raised bed is recommended. Beds can be made out of landscape timbers, concrete blocks, railroad ties, or other materials. Topsoil and organic matter are then added and mixed with the original soil.
Note that many types of roses are grafted, which means that the top of one plant is attached to the root system of another. They should be planted so that this graft union is just above the soil line. Tamp down the soil and water well to eliminate any air pockets. Then add a layer of organic mulch to reduce weeds and hold in moisture.
Roses will need a regular fertilizer routine. About 1 pound of 10-10-10 per 100 square feet each month from April through August should do nicely.
Probably the biggest challenge for rose lovers is pest control. Most roses cannot be grown successfully without a regular spray program (probably every 7-14 days during the growing season). Your program should include a fungicide to control black spot, plus an insecticide to control aphids, mites, thrips, and other critters. For convenience, some products contain both an insecticide and a fungicide. Call me if you need help with a specific pest problem.
Pruning should be done in the spring, just before bud break (around late February). Prune so that there are 3-5 canes in a circular or vase shape that is open in the middle.
Recently there has been a lot of interest in pest and disease resistant roses. The English roses, for example, are the result of crosses between old varieties that have good pest resistance, and new varieties chosen for their color and long blooming period. These are definitely excellent choices, but any claims of a "carefree" rose should be treated with a degree of skepticism.
If you are ready to take the plunge into the magical world of roses, feel free to give me a call for more details.
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