did you know?

Ancient Romans considered the rose a symbol of Venus, their goddess of love. The early Christian church later took the rose as a symbol of the Virgin Mary, and rosaries, used in keeping a tally of prayers, are so named because they were made of rose petals or hips.

general maintenance:

In late winter, shorten canes by half. When leaf buds open in spring, remove dead and diseased branches and crossing and weak canes. Deadhead spent blooms to promote flowering. In areas where frost occurs, discontinue deadheading and fertilization in early fall to prepare for dormancy.

pests/diseases:

In humid regions, fungal diseases (black spot, powdery mildew) may stunt and discolor leaves or defoliate entire shrubs. Common pests include aphids, spider mites, and Japanese beetles.

controls:

To discourage fungal diseases, avoid wetting foliage, and remove and dispose of fallen leaves. Spray a mixture of 4 teaspoons baking soda and 1 tablespoon horticultural oil per gallon of water; repeat weekly. In Zone 10, strip remaining leaves from shrubs at spring pruning. For aphids and spider mites, use horticultural oil, following package directions. Handpick Japanese beetles and destroy.

how to sow/plant:

Choose a sunny site with fertile, well-drained soil, and amend with well-rotted manure or compost. Plant container-grown roses in spring or fall (at least a month before frost) at the same level they were in the pot. Plant bare-root roses in early spring; before planting, soak entire plant in water for 12?24 hours to replace lost moisture. Dig a 2-by-2-foot hole. Return some soil to hole, forming a 1-foot mound. Place plant on the mound, fanning out roots. In Zones 6 and warmer, set bud union just above soil level; in Zones 5 and colder, set bud union 2?4 inches below soil level. Cover roots with soil, and water thoroughly, but do not fertilize at this time.

water and fertilize:

Monitor soil moisture all season; use soaker hose to give roses an inch of water weekly during dry weather. Once newly planted bare-root roses break dormancy, feed with an all-purpose fertilizer at half rate, following package directions. After the first season, feed with balanced organic fertilizer in early spring and again in early summer at first bloom, and spray bushes with kelp extract in early fall.

garden hint:

To enhance their resistance to fungal diseases, plant roses in an open, breezy spot—the airflow helps keep foliage dry. And make sure roses get at least 6 hours of full sun daily; a stressed plant is more susceptible to disease.

features:

• Attractive Flowers
• Attractive Foliage
• Attractive Fruit
• Deciduous
• Disease Resistant
• Fragrant

garden uses:

• Edging
• Flowerbed borders

other uses:

• Cut Flower
• Everlasting (>)
• Potpourri

combine with:

a range of perennials. At Turkey Hill, Martha integrates roses into many of the flower beds, mixing them with peonies phlox, monkshood Japanese anemones euphorbias, and meadow rues