Roses: Easier Than You Think!
“We have noticed that roses have grown in popularity.”
Have you been looking for a long-blooming, evergreen shrub that doesn't freeze and can take the most brutal sunlight? Does it sound too good to be true? We hear many of our customers voice concern over the supposed difficulty of growing roses but they may well be your new best friend!
All roses require at least six hours of sun (preferably eight or more), good air circulation, proper drainage and regular fertilization. There are varieties of roses to suit most of your sun-loving landscaping needs.
Knock-out Roses
They reach approximately four to five feet tall and come in cherry red, pink, white, yellow, and coral colors. They make an excellent hedge or specimen planting.
Drift Roses
They reach two to three feet tall and come in approximately ten colors. They make wonderful flower bed borders. Plant them along sidewalks, driveways, and even in large containers. Drift Roses are also extremely disease resistant!
Old Garden/Antique Roses
They can range in height from two to over twelve feet and come in every color and shape imaginable: small shrubs, tall pillars, and climbers. Old roses are tough as nails and, once established, will thrive without much care at all.
Tea, Floribunda & Grandiflora Roses
You will find the largest variety of sizes, colors, and scents among these hybridized roses. Some may require a little more care than others but the reward is worth the effort. These roses can be planted en masse, as a specimen, or in containers.
A Few Tips:
When planting roses dig your hole twice as wide as the container it is growing in and plant about 2 inches above the soil level. Use good organic matter added to native soil.
The main time to prune your roses along the Gulf Coast is Valentines Day. This is when you can give your roses a major "haircut" so they will be ready for an amazing Spring bloom. Another time to prune is mid-August, but only up to 1/3 of the bush. This will get your Summer-worn roses ready for a beautiful Fall flush. Knock-outs and Drifts can be pruned just about any time but, again, only up to 1/3 of the bush.
Roses like to be fed! We suggest using Micro-Life or Color Star for Roses.
Sometimes roses can get a fungus, especially after lots of rain. We recommend using a fungicide, but sometimes just compost can encourage the good bacteria that help keep fungi at bay.
We have noticed that roses have grown in popularity. The last couple of cold winters our customers lost some of their tropicals, but the roses didn't skip a beat! I hope you will try a few of these beauties in your garden this year!