Roses are the plant group that have
probably received the most attention and had the most words written
about them than other kind of plant. So it is with some trepidation
that I approach the task of a short summary that includes all the important
stuff.
Roses are flowering shrubs. They are
hardy in zones 5-9 with some members being hardy down to zone 3. They
are usually unfussy about soil, but like deep moderately fertile well
drained soil and a position in full sun. Again they are not so fussy
about sun or shade, but will produce the most and best flowers in full
sun, they will survive in shade, but it's a waste to try them here as
they will be leggy and unlovely of habit.
Roses are available in white through
pink to reds and some purple shades, there are also yellows and oranges.
Black roses are a myth as are blue roses (what's the point when Gentians
and Delphiniums are so beautiful already, and they're supposed to be
blue anyway).
There are a huge number of different
roses and groups of roses, if you are interested, there is a huge literature
on the subject, but for most people who want beautiful blooms in their
garden with the minimum of fuss, there is not a lot that you really
need to know, though we should start with:
Types of roses:
Climbers - Do just what it says
on the packet. Backward pointing thorns in most cases to stop them from
slipping down and extra long stems that will extend them up and over
head height. Climbers need supports and tying in to begin with before
the stems become woody enough to maintain their position on their own.
Climbers try to go on ever upwards, but flower on horizontal shoots,
so tie in the shoots so that you encourage flowering.
Shrub roses - Usually quite large
plants to 4-6 feet tall, though can be half this size. Amongst the most
trouble free of all roses, many are continual flowering and fit well
into mixed planting schemes, may also be used as hedges or specimen
plants. Disease resistant.
Floribunda - An abundance of flowers,
do they live up their name? In the main, yes, smallish (comparatively)
flowers is the pay-off, similar to shrub roses, but sometimes quite
a bit smaller, 2-3 feet and not repeat flowering. Disease resistant.
Grandiflora - Cluster flowered
roses like floribundas, but with larger blooms. Less disease resistant
but more so than hybrid tea roses.
Hybrid Tea Roses - These are large
flowered repeat flowering roses that are the most disease prone of all
rose types. OK stop being negative, as they are also some of the most
loved (not by me) and commonly offered rose varieties. The blooms really
can be very lovely (diplomatic silence follows).
Rose Cultivation
Once roses are well established after
2-3 years, they can be left to their own devices. They are usually drought
resistant as a result of shiny water retaining leaves and the unfair
advantage of a huge woody root system that out-competes anything they're
close to.
They appreciate a mulch of organic material
at least once a year and a feed of slow release fertiliser such as blood,
fish and bonemeal or Gromore in the fall.
Some types are particularly vulnerable
to blackspot (hybrid teas come to mind). Blackspot
is a disease that manifests itself as guess what? - that's right black
spots on the leaves, which then fall off shortly afterwards. This leads
to rather sparse looking plants with few leaves and a lack of vigor
due to the inability to photosynthesize fully. The degree to which a
plant is affected depends on the variety and situation. It may be possible
to spray for blackspot and remove the problem, but some varieties in
some situations will have it forever and it is best to call it a day
and replace the plant.
Rose sickness - This is something
that affects the rose plant and also the soil in which it is growing.
After many years of growing roses in the same place, they may inexplicably
wilt and die without it being apparent that any particular ailment has
befallen them. Further more, on planting any additional roses in the
same place, they will also develop the same symptoms and expire.
The only solution is not to grow roses
there and grow them somewhere else instead. Other plant varieties may
be grown in that place without effect - though I'd stay away from other
members of the family Roseacaea just in case.
Other ailments - Prone to attack
by aphids particularly in early summer on the developing flower
buds, keep an eye out, rub the first attack off with your fingers (wipe
on the grass afterwards before eating your sandwiches) and then attack
the second lot with the organic or chemical cosh of your choice.
Powdery mildew can also be a problem,
spray with the chemical of your choice on sight as it's unlikely to
go away of its own volition.
Pruning
Roses should have spent flowers removed
as the petals fall off, the only exceptions are Rosa rugosa varieties
as they flower like crazy and develop large red hips that the birds
love to pull apart for their seeds in the fall.
Otherwise reduce to about 2/3rds of their
size in late fall. Diseased and dead wood should be removed as seen.
