Rose Gardening: Supplemental Information

The following information is supplemental to my "In Bloom" in the Lynden Tribune. If you haven't read it yet, I encourage you to pick up a copy of the Tribune or read my column here. --David

Every time you visit a nursery, you marvel at the beautiful roses; the gorgeous blooms in every shade of the rainbow, the glossy leaves--and don't forget the amazing fragrances! But you've tried before...and failed. Or maybe you've just heard it's too much work. You're not alone--many gardeners feel the same way.

As with beginning any worthwhile hobby, you need to know where to start. If you've read this week's "In Bloom" column in the Lynden Tribune, you've been given some mistakes to avoid. Below you'll find some additional information to take into consideration as you start a rose garden.

• When choosing roses for your garden, it's important to pick healthy plants. However, you also need to know what class of roses you want. If you like long-stem roses suited for cutting and making bouquets, look for hybrid tea varieties. If you prefer large clusters of roses that you can enjoy looking at in the garden, select floribunda varieties. These types have plentiful flowers but rarely bloom all at once, so a cluster of flowers doesn't work well for cutting--you'll end up with too many spent flowers and buds. A third class of roses--and a combination of the two aforementioned types--is grandiflora. Typically, these roses have long stems and are well-suited for cutting, but they may have two or three buds per stem. 
• Planting roses isn't a difficult task, but you need to make sure that your soil is well-drained. Before you plant, dig a hole a foot deep and wide and fill it with water. Check it in an hour; if it's not completely drained, you must amend your soil. Dig out an area at least twice as large as the pot the rose came in (or, if bareroot, no less than 18 inches across and deep). Refill the hole with equal parts topsoil and a mild compost--at the nursery we recommend a yard waste compost by Green Earth Technology. Use this as the planting medium for your roses. 
• Once your roses are planted, build a small berm (2 inches should be sufficient) of mulch or soil at a radius of 12 inches around each plant. This will make watering much easier as any water you give the plants will stay focused at the roots. 
• Pruning is often one of the biggest concerns potential rose gardeners have, and with good reason--a poorly-pruned plant can quickly get out of control and begin to suffer. This time of year isn't good for doing major pruning on your roses, so I'll save the topic for this fall; however, you should be aware of the best way to prune back spent flowers. After a bloom is finished, follow the stem down to where you find the first cluster of five leaves facing away from the plant. Prune at a slight angle 1/2 inch above that junction to encourage new growth (and more flowers!). Be sure to always use a sharp, clean pruner--and it's always a good idea to sterilize your pruner after cutting through diseased or dead wood!
• Left untreated, roses are great host plants for many forms of insects and disease. Don't, however, let this scare you away--it's easy enough to keep your plants healthy with today's products! Around here, the most common insects you'll find on your roses are aphids. They're often light green when you first notice them and they'll most often feed on buds and areas of new growth. As far as diseases go, two are particularly prevalent in our cool, often-wet climate: black spot and powdery mildew. Thankfully for the average gardener, these are true to their names. Black spot will show up as small round patches of black on leaves and branches, especially in the bottom third of a rose bush. Leaves will turn yellow and fall off as the fungus progresses. Powdery mildew can show up just about anywhere on a plant and has a dusty white appearance. Both are commonly brought on by high humidity or outright wet foliage and any affected leaves should be immediately removed and disposed of. At Vander Giessen's, we recommend treating every six weeks with Bayer Advanced All-in-One Rose and Flower Care during the growing season to prevent any insect and disease problems. This product is a liquid systemic, meaning no more spraying--just mix it in a quart of water and pour at the base of your rose bushes. It's also a fertilizer, so it's the only product you'll ever have to use to treat your roses. 

I'm sure that there are plenty of additional questions you may have, especially if rose gardening is a hobby you've never dared try. I've tried to present a thorough "beginner's guide" as you get started, but no doubt there are topics you'd like addressed. Or, if you're an experienced rose gardener, you might have tips and tricks you'd like to share with other gardeners. Either way, please feel free to leave comments below or e-mail them to me at info@vandergiessennursery.com. I'll try to post answers as soon as possible!

If you'd like more information in print, please stop by Vander Giessen Nursery to pick up some free literature on growing roses. Now, have fun and enjoy getting started with your rose garden!

Roses: Easier Than You Think!

June is National Rose Month, so today I’d like to address one of America’s most-loved and commonly misunderstood flowering plants. For decades, roses have had a bad reputation as being difficult to grow. In the past, it was true—being a “rose gardener” meant that you had plenteous time to dedicate to spraying, fertilizing and pruning. Today, however, you can have a beautiful rose garden with minimal effort. Really, it’s true!

Whether you’re a newcomer to rose gardening or are looking for suggestions on how to make it easier, consider these common mistakes many gardeners make and tips for success.

First, many gardeners plant roses where there’s an empty space, not where there are necessarily good growing conditions. Many plants (for example, azaleas) can easily be grown in sun or shade. For roses, find a spot in your garden that’s sunny, hot and dry. Roses love heat and hate sitting in wet soil, so pick a spot where you can ensure they’ll be well-drained and get at least half a day of full sun. Any less than 4-6 hours of sunlight and your roses will undoubtedly suffer.

Second, many people plant roses too close together. Doing so makes getting around your shrubs difficult, and more importantly, restricts airflow around the plants. Stagnant air promotes fungus problems such as black spot and powdery mildew. For best results, space your roses 3 feet apart or 2 feet from other plants in your garden—the more room for air circulation, the better.

Third, beginning rose gardeners too often choose plants based on the blossoms, not the plant. Remember, flowers come and go, but if you start out with a poorly shaped or weak plant, you’ll likely struggle with it for years to come. When shopping, visit your local independent garden center and only select Grade 1 roses. All roses are graded based on the number and size of the main canes (or branches), so Grade 1 will give you the healthiest, strongest plants. Look for roses to have at least 2-4 strong canes that branch out away from each other—avoid plants that are too crowded in the center. If you’re unsure of what to look for, a nursery professional will be happy to help you pick the best plants.

A fourth mistake many gardeners make comes at the time of planting. If you have poorly drained soil, replace or amend it with good, well-drained soil or compost. Plant the rose at the same grade as the soil in the pot it came in, or if bareroot, a couple of inches below the graft.

Probably the biggest mistake I hear of gardeners making with roses is watering. After planting, roses should be kept lightly and consistently moist until they’re adapted to the location. Once your roses are established, switch to watering a couple times a week (or less in cool weather) with a soaker hose. Doing so promotes strong root growth. Never water overhead—like stagnant air, water on the foliage encourages fungus growth.

Finally, many gardeners believe that the only way to keep roses healthy is with complicated, dangerous sprays, dusting powders and granular fertilizers. This is my favorite mistake to correct. Today, the best product on the market does it all—insect protection, disease control and fertilizing—in one easy application, and it’s not a spray! Use it three or four times during the growing season and your roses will be more beautiful than ever.

For more information on selecting and growing beautiful roses with fewer headaches or to have your questions answered, visit www.VanderGiessenNursery.com and join the conversation. Happy gardening!