Roses

While Roses have been part of landscapes for centuries, they have become increasingly popular over the last several years – largely due to the introduction of Free-Flowering Shrub Roses. Growing roses isn’t as difficult as you may think.  We at Canoyer Garden Center want you to be have the most beautiful rose gardens.  Just follow a few simple tips and you can be successful!

Sunlight

Roses thrive in full sun – at least six to eight hours.

Soil

Roses love soil that is well drained and fertilized.  In clay soil, mix compost (or top soil) into the soil – usually a ratio of 1 part compost to 1 to 2 parts original soil.

Planting

Own-root roses (typically most shrub roses and miniatures) can be planted as deep as they have been planted in the nursery pot.  For grafted roses, plant the graft to a depth of 1” to 2” below the ground.  This is why amending the soil is so important.

Fertilize

Using a premium systemic (granular) fertilizer, apply every 2-3 weeks, beginning in mid April.  You can also supplement with a liquid fertilizer.  Stick with a fertilizer that offers nutrients, such as 12-12-12 or 12-20-12, etc.

Water

Water with a soaker hose or at the base of each plant. Typically 1” of water per week is usually enough for established plants.  Avoid using a sprinkler system, as this can encourage black spot.  Should black spot occur, simply remove any affected leaves from the plant and ground, and spray with fungicide according to directions.  Once black spot has occurred, a regular application is helpful.  Removing old mulch can also help.

Fall Cleanup

Depending on weather, cutting roses back 1/3 of their total height usually occurs in late October to mid-November.  Look for roses whose canes (stems) have turned a darker, slightly purple color to know when to cut them back.  For grafted roses, use a rose collar or chicken wire and wrap around the rose.  Inside this use large bark mulch, crushed oak leaves or straw to insulate through the winter.  For shrub roses, simply mulch around the base during their first winter, although this is usually not necessary.

Rose Classifications Available At Canoyer Garden Center

Shrub Roses – typically 3’ to 4’ in height and width.  Flowers can range from 5 petals to 25, depending on variety.  Most are Own-Root.  Free-Flowering. Great to use in landscapes.

Hybrid Tea Roses – can grow from 3’ to 6’, depending on variety.  Flowers usually borne one per stem and are suitable for cutting.  Many of this variety are grafted.

Floribunda Roses – growth habit of 3’ to 5’.  Flowers typically grow as clusters on each stem.  Can be used as cut flowers. 

Climbing Roses – many varieties can grow upwards of 12’ and beyond!  Look for climbers that bloom on new wood, as this will enable you to prune them during the growing season and still get more blooms that same year.  Wrap climbing roses for the winter with burlap and mulch for the winter.

Miniature Roses – as the name implies, most grow only 2’ x 2’ and many are own-root.  Many of this variety look like miniature hybrid tea roses.  Perfect for Front-of-the-Border Landscaping.