Some time in early May, around Mother’s Day, roses come into
their first peak of bloom. Just look around. It’s certainly hard to
miss the vibrant colors, beautiful flower forms, and dazzling
fragrances.
Some time in early May, around Mother’s Day, roses come into their first peak of bloom. Just look around. It’s certainly hard to miss the vibrant colors, beautiful flower forms, and dazzling fragrances.
Roses in all their shapes and colors are America’s official floral image. Art, literature and music have been devoted to roses. There are probably more roses growing in American gardens than any other flower. And that holds true, too, in South Valley where rose bushes thrive in our rich soil and perfect weather.
The most amazing thing about roses, to my mind, is that they are remarkably easy to grow. A little water, a little fertilizer, a little mulch – and roses are eager to bloom their little hearts out.
To keep repeat blooms on roses, it takes a small effort.
Cut off spent flowers. Make the cut down to the first five-leaf growth. This is the point from which new growth will appear.
Water every four to seven days, depending on how hot the weather. Water by deep soaking at the roots. Keep water off the foliage to avoid leaf mold and black spot.
Feed roses every six weeks with an all-purpose rose fertilizer. To apply the fertilizer, first water the roots, add the fertilizer, and then water once again to soak in the fertilizer.
An organic mulch applied beneath the bush will conserve water and cut down on weed growth. Keep the ground underneath the bush clear of any garden debris, pick up fallen petals and leaves, and yank out suckers growing from the base of the rose bush.
What about disease? Be alert to the problems of black spot, leaf mold and aphids – all of which may appear by mid-summer. Spray if the problem gets out of hand.
There are number of excellent products for rose care. For instance, I’ve had good luck with a systemic rose and flower granular treatment that is both an insecticide for chewing-sucking insects – those awful aphids – and a 8-12-4 plant food. Whatever you choose, read the label carefully to be sure it’s the right product for your particular problem, and then follow the instructions to the letter. If one handful is the recommended treatment, that does not mean that two handfuls are better.
With regular watering, feeding and care, roses will bloom through fall into November. Some plants never go totally dormant, which means you can be still snipping rose buds at Christmas.
A Reader Wants to Know: Have you ever heard of pruning roses with electric hedge shears? It would be a lot easier than clipping each branch and each stem.
Joan Says: Yes, I have heard of people giving a rose bush a “hair cut” with electric hedge shears. But, please, just because someone has tried this doesn’t make it right or recommended. The purpose of pruning roses in January is to select strong, healthy canes that will support the new season growth. If you shear your roses this year, you will need to do heavy pruning the second year to rescue the healthy canes and remove the lousy stuff.
Do your rose pruning in January with hand clippers, loppers and tree saw. Use the electric hedge shears to cut the hedge.
A Reader Says: I just brought my dog home from the vet where he had foxtails removed from his nose. Please remind your readers to get rid of the foxtails. Your dog will thank you. – Fran
Joan Says: Yes. Absolutely. Get rid of the foxtails and other weeds in your yard. They are a danger to dogs and cats. Also get rid of the weeds with stickers in pastures where your horses roam. Run them over with the lawn mower or weed whacker, or dig out the big stuff, but get them out of there.A 95023.
