RAISING ROSES SUCCESSFULLY TAKES A GROWTH PLAN

by
Helen M. Davis

Ah, roses. Their beauty cannot be matched nor can their sweet fragrance. They are simply a feast for the eyes and the nose. You’ve decided you want to grow some and you can’t wait to be able to delight in their splendor, but you aren’t sure how to start. Don’t despair. To grow roses successfully isn’t difficult but you do need to have an, er, growth plan.

Let’s start with spacing. Different varieties require different types of spacing. Floribundas should be spaced 24 – 36” apart for optimal growth while hybrid teas need 30 – 36” of personal space and miniatures require 10 – 18”. Once you have determined where your rose is going to call home, you will need to dig a hole approximately twice the diameter of the container it is currently residing in, but no deeper than the container. The rose should be planted so the bud union is at or just below the level of the soil. The hole should then be filled with amended backfill that works best when it is a combination of 25% planting compost and native soil. To show your rose(s) how much you care and to get the best blooms for your buck, add one gallon of work castings into the backfill for each rose. Do not fertilize for two weeks while your rose(s) are getting comfy in their new digs and after planting, an 18-inch diameter circle should be mulched with planning compost 1” deep. Your rose(s) will thank you from the bottom of their stems.

Now that your rose(s) are planted, you need to think about watering. After all, roses get thirsty, too. When you water, and your rose(s) will thank you again, you should irrigate the entire root zone, which would be to a depth of one foot. It is critical to keep the top six inches moist because this is where the feeder roots call home. Though it might be tempting to do so, drip irrigation is not recommended for roses. Micro irrigation systems are better suited for the task because they wet the entire surface and you want to keep those feeder roots happy. If they aren’t happy, after all, then your rose(s) are not going to be happy and you aren’t going to be happy, either. Roses should be watered in the morning so the foliage can dry as soon as possible.

So, you’ve gotten this far. The roses are content in their home and soon you will be bedazzled by their rich colors and heady aroma. But, but, you’ve discovered, God forbid, pests! Oh no! Now what to do? If you are not a fan of chemicals, don’t despair! There are eco-friendly approaches to ridding your babies of bugs. This includes what is termed (an) integrated pest management (IPM) approach to caring for plants. Always utilize the least toxic method first in your battle vs. the buggers and resort to the more toxic only if absolutely necessary to convince hangers on that you are serious about the eviction notice you have served, and they are to vacate the leafy premises immediately. You can have roses of a high quality under most conditions without resorting to the big guns of the pesticide and fungicide variety.

Insecticide soaps are effective for infestations of aphids and, if you wish, you can also bring in reinforcements also known as ladybugs, who consider aphids a fine meal, though there is no guarantee they will want to remain in your yard no matter how much you might cajole them to do so

Maybe you haven’t experienced squatters of the six-legged sort, but you’ve discovered your rose(s) have, ahem, spots! This simply will not do! Your rose(s) must be absolutely perfect and with a little work, they can be. If your rose(s) are being plagued by powdery mildews, Black Spot or other fungal diseases, let NEEM oil come to the rescue! NEEM is so powerful it also works in cases of infestations by aphids or mites. Treatment should be started at the first sign of disease and be repeated every week to ten days for a total of three applications. With NEEM on the job, your rose(s) will be free of unsightly spots in short order and will be a source of pride once again.

Just like you need vitamins for optimal health, your rose(s) will need to be fertilized so they, too, can enjoy being at their best. As previously mentioned, this should start two weeks after planting. Down to Earth Rose and Flower 4-8-4 fertilizer is an organic formulation that will nourish the soil food web and in turn, provide good care to your ever appreciative roses. It should be used monthly, save for August, as even roses need a little time off. The final application should take place in early October, and you should use one cup per plant that you will spread over the root zone and work lightly into the mulch layer. Roses also need attention during their dormant time of the year and in February or early March, when your rose(s) are barren of leaves, they should be treated with Monterey Liqui-Cop and Horticultural Oil. Soil biology is important forl soil and plant health, use earth worm castings once a year to diversify the soil biology, and you will also discover greater insect and disease resistance.

Last, but certainly not least, roses need to be groomed. We look better when we are neatly groomed and so do roses. It is also important to groom roses to stimulate their growth, remove wood that is no longer productive, shape the bush, and provide air circulation. This should also take place in February or early March. Tall roses, however, can be headed back in autumn to avoid damage from the wind during nasty winter weather. Dead and diseased branches should be removed as should suckers from below the graft and crossing branches. The center of the bush should be opened leaving three to five canes. Floribundas and Hybrid Teas Grandifloras should be 15—24” tall. When deadheading, one should cut to an outward facing bud. Deadheading should also be done during the growing season to stimulate more beautiful blooms and should be done by cutting back into the bush to an outward facing bud.

So, there you have it! Armed with this information, you are ready to cultivate roses and turn your garden or yard into a place that will elicit “oohs” and “ahhs” from all who venture near. In the process, you will have happy roses and if your roses are happy, you are happy so it is a win-win for all. 

All pics are from Home Grown Nusery.