April 18, 2007

If you would like to have a photo to go along with this article there 
are some available on the AARS website: www.rose.org One of the side 
bars is titled "media center". You'll find pics of the roses I have 
written about. Beth


The roses are scheduled to arrive this week at our store. Not that long 
ago the majority of roses were shipped and subsequently planted in 
their 
dormant state. The familiar cardboard boxed roses were out for sale in 
the month of March. Rosarians recommended that the roses be planted 
while still dormant early in the season for the best results. Today 
shoppers will find potted roses fully leaved out and ready to 
flower-“bud and bloom”. No longer relying on a colorful picture and 
description on the side of the box, the gardener can see and smell 
America’s favorite flower before making their purchase. The rose bush 
acclimates to the garden as well as it did planted in the dormant 
state.

Many gardeners seek out new roses to add to their collection every 
year, 
while others find them too fussy requiring too much work. Some types of 
roses do need extra attention such as pruning, spraying and deadheading 
to keep them looking good. Hybrid teas and grandifloras need the most 
attention. But there are many roses available today that require little 
to no care. Most of the major rose suppliers have a class of rose that 
they consider easy to grow. Flower Carpet, Hasslefree, Carefree and 
Knockout are some of the ones readily available. All need very little 
pruning and are not susceptible to pests and disease.

Besides these easy care varieties gardeners can also rely on the All 
America Rose Selections (AARS). Each year a few new rose varieties are 
given this special designation. The roses are trialled in gardens in 
all 
climate zones throughout the country. For two years the new rose 
varieties are grown receiving no special care other than what they 
would 
get in the average home garden. They are evaluated for such 
characteristics as vigor, disease resistance, foliage, fragrance, form 
and overall value. The winners can be expected to perform well in any 
garden in the country.

There are three AARS winners for 2007. “Rainbow Knockout” is 
another 
selection from the Knockout family of roses. It is more floriferous and 
disease resistant than its forbears. It is a bushy compact shrub rose 
with glossy dark green leaves. The delicately scented flowers are deep 
coral pink with yellow centers. The flowers are two inches across with 
five petals. Bloom time lasts well into autumn. This rose grows well in 
containers and in small spaces in the garden. It is considered to be a 
rose that needs no spraying.

Floribunda roses tend to be less fussy than hybrid teas. The winner 
“Moondance” is a floribunda that follows that trait with good 
resistance 
to black spot, mildew and rust. This is a tall plant with very glossy 
dark green leaves and an abundance of creamy white flowers. The flowers 
have long stems, unusual for a floribunda, and a spicy fragrance.

The third selection is “Strike it Rich” a grandiflora with strong 
spicy 
fragrance. Grandiflora means large flower and this rose has long lived 
golden yellow flowers swirled with red that average five inches across. 
The bush is medium tall with dark green leaves and deep red stems. 
Great 
disease resistance and vigor add to the qualities of this rose.

Roses succumb to diseases in our area more than any other cause. Humid 
and wet weather contribute to the spread of the leaf diseases. Starting 
with easy care or disease resistant varieties is the first step in 
growing healthy plants. Proper spacing to allow for good air 
circulation 
is also important. Plant roses three feet apart from neighboring 
plants. 
The rose crown, which is the thickened spot at the base of the plant 
where it has been grafted to the root stock, needs to be set an inch 
below ground when the bush is planted. This will protect the crown 
during the winter. Adding a two to three inch layer of mulch around the 
plant after planting will also reduce the chance of disease.

Potted bud and bloom roses have time release fertilizer in their 
potting 
soil that will sustain them through the first growing season. Adding 
compost or humus to the planting hole will give them a good start. 
Water 
the plants weekly if rainfall is insufficient.

Beth Nardone, botanist, is a resident of Hillsborough and is the 
Nursery 
Manager at the Belle Mead Co-Op. Questions and comments can be sent to 
bethtanical@patmedia.net <mailto:bethtanical@patmedia.net>