Caring for Roses
by UCCE Tuolumne County
Master Gardener Denise Healy
Shakespeare, trying to define the beauty of Juliet, used the rose’s scent as a
metaphor when he wrote “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other
name, would smell as sweet.” And it was James Barrie who said "God gave us memories
so that we might have roses in December." Now that it’s definitely December, with cold
weather and snow to prove it, and with bareroot season arriving early in the upcoming
year, it just might be a good time to give your future roses some thought.
The rose is the quintessential flower. Yet, while they tantalize us with their
intoxicating beauty, we must never forget they do have certain requirements that must be
met. To forget that is to be forever struggling with unhappy plants that never produce the
desired result.
In trying to live happily with the dozens of roses inherited with our property
purchase a number of years ago, I have learned a few things about them. While some
have not survived the novice learning process, others continue to try to help me
understand my responsibilities. I have come to appreciate their varied and wonderful
habits, smells and colors.
"Right plant, right place" is the first step in growing any healthy plant, not just
roses. These days, roses have been cultivated to thrive in many situations. They can be
grown with less sun and with less water. There are varieties that handle colder climates
and hotter climates, that are thornless, that flower more than once in a season…the list
goes on. But whatever requirements for a particular rose, it’s imperative those
requirements be met.
Finding the right rose for your particular site is the first step to having beautiful
roses. Or, if an established plant is not faring well where it is, find out its site
requirements and replant it as the first step to having a happy beautiful specimen.
Sometimes, as with my roses, they may have been planted around other plantings that
have now matured, casting more shade on the rose. In this case, move the rose to a
sunnier locale or remove some of the plantings around it.
Most of my roses were planted outside an enclosed or fenced area. As soon as my
roses get a bit of new growth, the deer come by for a gourmet feast! And they don’t even
say "thank you" afterwards! Liquid Fence, and other spray-on deterrents, can help, but it
can be costly and time consuming.
When planting roses, adequate site preparation is vital. Roses can live for a long,
long time, so the soil will need to be prepared with a lot of organic material, composted
manure, humus or other amendments. Cultivate the soil to loosen it in the planting area.
Then add the amendments, mixing thoroughly with the native soil.
Roses need water to grow vigorously. Especially in their first years, water is
essential to plant health. While some roses have been cultivated to handle less water,
they cannot be regarded as drought tolerant plants. Drip irrigation and mulching can save
on watering costs. A deep watering should be done once a week, no more than twice per
week in extremely hot weather. Water should be applied to the ground (not an overhead
spray) to reduce fungus and mildew problems.
Regular feeding will keep roses blooming through the season. Rose producers
recommend slow release or organic based fertilizers that are applied to the ground. These
should be applied beginning in early spring when all danger of frost is past, with the last
feeding six weeks before the first frost. The University of California recommends
feeding roses twice per year, once in spring and once in fall.
Because rose plants can be susceptible to aphids and other insect pests, powdery
mildew, black spot, rust..... (well, you get the point), a rose owner may resort to chemical
help to fight off problems. Master Gardeners recommend integrated pest management
(IPM). According to the U.C. Integrated Pest Management Program, IPM is "an
ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests or their damage
through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation,
modification of cultural practices, and use of resistant varieties. Pesticides are used only
after monitoring indicates they are needed according to established guidelines, and
treatments are made with the goal of removing only the target organism. Pest control
materials are selected and applied in a manner that minimizes risks to human health,
beneficial and nontarget organisms, and the environment."
First try to purchase plants that are disease resistant, plant them in the right place,
water them adequately, refrain from watering overhead (I know I am being redundant)
and then, if problems occur, look for organic ways to fight the problem. This multi-tiered
approach, starting with prevention, uses chemical pesticide treatment only when other
techniques aren’t effective. Roses are very susceptible to damage from broad-spectrum
herbicides, especially glyphosate (Roundup and other brand names). Damage can be
caused by herbicide drift from spraying in another area and may not appear until the
following year. For more information, see
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7463.html
Pruning helps to maintain an attractive shape and encourages flowering on a
healthy plant. In our climate, pruning is best done in January and February, or before
buds swell. To prune, make a sloping cut about ¼ inch above an outward facing bud.
Dabbing a small drop of Elmer’s glue on top of the cut will help to seal and protect the
new cut from cane borers. Make sure to use clean, sharp shears. It is recommended that
shears be cleaned with a light bleach solution after pruning each plant. Using a hand
sanitizing towel is a quick and easy way to keep your shears clean. Each variety of rose
has its own specifications for pruning. This information can be found at local nurseries,
in the gardening section of the local library (where Master Gardener-donated books can
be found) and from the Golden Sierra Rose Society, 536-9415.
There is so much more that can be said about caring for roses. While it may seem
daunting to take on the task of rose ownership, a vase overflowing with roses on a warm
summer day, or the scent in the air from a plant bursting with blooms, makes it all
worthwhile. Good preventative care helps tremendously, as does choosing the right plant
for the right place. A consistent routine of watering, fertilizing and pruning, and
integrated pest management will keep your roses happy and healthy.
If you prefer not to tackle the maintenance of roses yourself, but want to enjoy
their beauty, here are a few California public gardens that feature beautiful rose displays.
Check them out if you are in these areas: Barona Gardens, San Diego; Descanso Gardens,
Flintridge; Filoli Gardens, Woodside; Garden Valley Ranch, Petaluma; Huntington
Botanical Gardens, San Marino; The Richard Nixon Library Garden, Yorba Linda.
For more information about roses, contact the UCCE Tuolumne County Master
Gardener office at 209.533.5696 or go to www.ipm.ucdavis.edu and click on “Trees and
shrubs.”
Denise Healy graduated from the Master Gardener training program in 2007 and
is learning from her roses in the Columbia area.