Roses are without a doubt the best-known
and most popular garden plant. Some rose lovers are attracted by
the plant's extraordinary history, dating to Roman times and before.
Many more are simply smitten by the beauty and fragrance of the
flowers. Despite these enticements, beginning gardeners are often
hesitant to grow roses, for they have a reputation as difficult
plants. If you've been put off, take heart, roses are well within
your reach. In this series of articles, we'll
suggest ways to use these lovely plants in the home landscape and
outline how to get started growing them.
ROSES IN THE LANDSCAPE:
Roses are frequently grown as specimen plants, on their own or with
other roses, to showcase their beautiful flowers. But roses can
serve a variety of landscaping purposes that make use of their often
handsome foliage as well. Miniatures and smaller bush roses serve
as edgings to walkways or garden beds. Larger bushes and climbers
can form hedges and screens to create privacy or screen a view.
A row of dense 6-ft.-tal plants makes an effective backdrop to a
perennial border. Trained over an entry trellis or up the side of
a house, a climber makes a striking accent. Many species and old-garden
roses fit right into "natural" landscapes.
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In addition to landscape use, consider
cultural conditions when determining a site for roses. Roses are
sun lovers, doing best with at least 6 hours of sun a day. In hot
climates, a location that provides some shady relief from midday
heat is beneficial. Protect roses from strong winds, which can damage
delicate blossoms and can quickly dry out a plant. Remember to keep
the plant's mature size in mind. Allowing room between it and other
plants for air to circulate freely will help prevent disease.
Choosing Roses:
Roses, perhaps more than any plant, entice us with their flowers.
Color, form, fragrance, bloom time, and duration all weigh in our
choices. But don't forget about practical matters. In cold-winter
areas, roses must be able to withstand the rigors of seasonal change.
The most common measure of this ability is the minimum temperature
a plant can survive. Horticulturists have divided the country into
11 "hardiness zones," based on average minimum temperatures. The
hardiness zone rating is frequently noted on plant labels and in
catalogs.
A rose chosen with local conditions
in mind, whether they be drought, high humidity, or poor soil, is
more likely to succeed and to require less regular care. In man
get together in formal or informal groups; these y towns and cities,
rose lovers people are usually eager to provide advice to novices.
Knowledgeable staff at a nursery or garden center can also offer
valuable help.
Roses are sold "bare-root" or in containers.
Bare-root plants are dormant, with leafless branches and roots bare
of any soil. All mail-order roses and many sold at nurseries are
bare-root. Bare-root plants are generally sold or shipped at times
appropriate for planting (spring or fall). If you can't plant a
bare-root plant immediately, keep it cool (below 50°F) so it won't
break dormancy, and keep it moist so it won't die.
Container-grown plants are typically
more expensive than bare-root and offer a more limited selection
of varieties. Look for healthy top growth; roots growing on top
of or out of the bottom of a container are signs that the plant
has been too long in its pot. In general, you can plant container
grown roses from spring to midsummer, or in the fall in warm-winter
climates.
