The pretty pink climbing polyantha, Rosa 'Mlle Cécile Brünner'. Photo Amanda Jarrett
Not all roses are created equal
This Gemini hybrid tea rose is simply elegant.
There is no need to envy those that grow a good rose. It's really not hard work, as there are many easy, low maintenance ones available; some don't even need pesticides to keep them pretty.
Roses get a bad rap due to the hybrid tea rose. It was bred for beauty but sadly it is prone to aphids, black spot and powdery mildew. Due to their lack of disease and insect resistance, pesticides were needed. This led to the belief that a heavy spray program of fungicides and insecticides is the only way to grow a blemish free rose, however not all roses are created equal.
Before the hybrid tea rose, Old Garden roses were grown. They don't have the repeat blooms and single elegance of hybrid teas, but their blossoms are gorgeous, are borne in profusion and most are exquisitely fragrant. There are a plethora of different types of old roses and generally they are quite disease and insect resistant. Old Garden roses include Alba, Centifolia, Damask, Gallica, Moss, China, Bourbon, Hybrid Perpetual, Noisette and Tea roses.
If hardiness, reliability and robust plants are what you are looking for consider shrub roses such as the Hybrid musk and Rugosa roses. They flower more than once, are fragrant, bear nice rose hips and tolerate partial shade.
The demand for dependable, hardy, continuous flowering, fragrant, disease and bug free roses caught the attention of plant breeders. Companies such as Proven Winners, have developed patented, trademark roses. These include the Canadian Explorer Series, Parkland Roses, Meidiland Landscape Rose, Flower Carpet Rose, OSO Easy Roses by Proven Winners and Knock Out roses.
There are many varieties of floribundas, grandifloras, landscape roses, Old Garden roses, shrub roses and even some hybrid teas that are easy care. Climate, of course, is a huge factor when selecting roses. Contact your local rose club and plant nursery for their recommendations as they will know which ones grow well in your area. Be selective and do your research.
Roses get a bad rap due to the hybrid tea rose. It was bred for beauty but sadly it is prone to aphids, black spot and powdery mildew. Due to their lack of disease and insect resistance, pesticides were needed. This led to the belief that a heavy spray program of fungicides and insecticides is the only way to grow a blemish free rose, however not all roses are created equal.
Before the hybrid tea rose, Old Garden roses were grown. They don't have the repeat blooms and single elegance of hybrid teas, but their blossoms are gorgeous, are borne in profusion and most are exquisitely fragrant. There are a plethora of different types of old roses and generally they are quite disease and insect resistant. Old Garden roses include Alba, Centifolia, Damask, Gallica, Moss, China, Bourbon, Hybrid Perpetual, Noisette and Tea roses.
If hardiness, reliability and robust plants are what you are looking for consider shrub roses such as the Hybrid musk and Rugosa roses. They flower more than once, are fragrant, bear nice rose hips and tolerate partial shade.
The demand for dependable, hardy, continuous flowering, fragrant, disease and bug free roses caught the attention of plant breeders. Companies such as Proven Winners, have developed patented, trademark roses. These include the Canadian Explorer Series, Parkland Roses, Meidiland Landscape Rose, Flower Carpet Rose, OSO Easy Roses by Proven Winners and Knock Out roses.
There are many varieties of floribundas, grandifloras, landscape roses, Old Garden roses, shrub roses and even some hybrid teas that are easy care. Climate, of course, is a huge factor when selecting roses. Contact your local rose club and plant nursery for their recommendations as they will know which ones grow well in your area. Be selective and do your research.
What Roses Need
These happy roses at Bathurst Mews in London, England are in an ideal location and receive good care.
Full Sun:
Most roses require full sun for ultimate rose health and vigour. Give them at least 6, preferably 8 hours of direct, full-tilt boogey sun per day. In hot climates, provide roses with shade in the afternoon to protect them from the hot, drying sun.
Morning Sun:
Mildew and black spot susceptible roses are best planted facing east where they will receive morning sun. This helps dry off the dew asap.
Spacing:
Avoid overcrowding. It's important to consider how much square footage a rose bush needs. It's not just their height; it's their width that's important. Read plant labels and do your research.
Generally, spacing is as follows:
Roses are heavy feeders so provide them with a rich soil with good drainage, lots of compost and 3 inches of mulch. An open area with good air circulation helps to reduce diseases.
Avoid planting under trees due to competing tree roots, subsequent shade, rain and morning dew dripping from the tree canopy.
Best Planting Time:
Autumn is the best time to plant roses and early spring is second best. Summer is not recommended due to high temperatures, lack of rain and they are in their peak flowering time. Make the hole the same depth as the root ball but 3 to 5 times wider. Water well after planting.
Soil Moisture and Watering:
A 3 inch layer of organic mulch (wood chips, cocoa hulls, leaves) placed on top of the soil is essential for rose health as it:
Most roses require full sun for ultimate rose health and vigour. Give them at least 6, preferably 8 hours of direct, full-tilt boogey sun per day. In hot climates, provide roses with shade in the afternoon to protect them from the hot, drying sun.
Morning Sun:
Mildew and black spot susceptible roses are best planted facing east where they will receive morning sun. This helps dry off the dew asap.
Spacing:
Avoid overcrowding. It's important to consider how much square footage a rose bush needs. It's not just their height; it's their width that's important. Read plant labels and do your research.
Generally, spacing is as follows:
- Hybrid teas: 4 - 5 ft.
- Floribundas: 3 - 4 ft.
- Grandifloras, shrub roses: 4 - 10 ft.
- Climbers, ramblers: 6 - 8 ft.
Roses are heavy feeders so provide them with a rich soil with good drainage, lots of compost and 3 inches of mulch. An open area with good air circulation helps to reduce diseases.
Avoid planting under trees due to competing tree roots, subsequent shade, rain and morning dew dripping from the tree canopy.
Best Planting Time:
Autumn is the best time to plant roses and early spring is second best. Summer is not recommended due to high temperatures, lack of rain and they are in their peak flowering time. Make the hole the same depth as the root ball but 3 to 5 times wider. Water well after planting.
Soil Moisture and Watering:
- Roses love moist soil and dislike arid conditions.
- Provide at least an inch of water weekly during the growing season.
- Good draining soil is essential. Soggy soil promotes root rot and diseases.
- To promote consistent soil moisture, apply 3 inches of wood chips or other organic mulch over the planting area. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the plant's crown or graft.
- Keep water off the stems, flowers and foliage whenever possible.
- Avoid overhead watering as it promotes blackspot and mildew.
- Water at ground level and do so in the morning rather than late in the day.
A 3 inch layer of organic mulch (wood chips, cocoa hulls, leaves) placed on top of the soil is essential for rose health as it:
- keeps soil moist
- insulates soil from temperature extremes
- discourages weeds
- reduces diseases as the mulch prevents fungal spores from splashing up onto the plant when it rains and during watering
- reduces soil erosion
- prevents soil crusting
- breaks down increasing soil fertility
- improves soil structure
- looks attractive
- provides winter protection when placed over a plants crown and bud union on grafted roses
- Don't let your roses go hungry! Producing beautiful blooms and strong plants takes energy.
- Keep soil healthy by applying compost yearly in spring when growth begins.
- Feed roses after each flush of blooms and give them a nice long drink.
- For more information, refer to the Feeding Roses article
- Dead head spent blossoms, water and fertilize plants right after flowering to promote more flowers and increase plant health.
- Remove dead, broken and diseased canes when noted.
- Remove suckers from grafted roses as soon as possible. These long shoots appear from below the bud union. They will take over the desired plant if left to their own devices.
- Do a light prune in fall removing overly long canes, dead canes and spent flowers.
- In spring, when the forsythias bloom, cut back all canes by 1/3rd, all dead growth as well as spindly and crossing canes.
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