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Newcomers are often surprised to discover that roses thrive here, but, in fact, 40 percent of the rose bushes sold are grown in this region and then shipped around the country for sale!
The campus of Mesa (Arizona) Community College features one of the few All America Rose Selection Demonstration and Test Gardens in the U.S., and the only one in the desert Southwest. It displays over 7000 rose bushes, planted and tended by volunteers from the Mesa-East Valley Rose Society. I enjoy wandering along its paths, perusing the names of roses. A recent addition is the Veterans Garden, dedicated to all five branches of the military. Rose varieties in these beds have patriotic names, including 'America' and 'Fourth of July'.
Rose variety names lend themselves to some wonderful theme garden opportunities. There are thousands of choices, many of them whimsically named after cartoon characters, celebrities, movies, books and plays, royalty, and holidays. For example, you'll find 'Betty Boop', 'Julia Child', and 'Jiminy Cricket' rose varieties.
Of course, before choosing, make sure the rose is rated to perform in your climate and is the type you want, such as a hybrid tea, climber, or old garden rose. Demonstration gardens come in handy when sorting through the options. If there's no garden in your area, there is likely a garden club or rose society with members who will be delighted to share their experience.
Roses Bloom in the Desert |
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In our normally dry conditions, roses don't suffer from many of the serious ailments, such as black spot, that plague more humid parts of the country. We have our share of thrips, powdery mildew, and aphids, but in general we can count on our rose blooms to be glorious.
A Little Care Goes A Long Way
Gardeners who exhibit in rose shows want perfection, so they usually spray for these problems, but average home gardeners don't have to be so demanding. Your best bet is to keep bushes healthy with effective watering and fertilizing. Healthy plants are better able to fend off pests and disease. Also, spray off the shrubs several times a week with a strong blast of water from the hose. This controls aphids and powdery mildew, but doesn't harm the beneficial insects that consume aphids, thrips, and spider mites.
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Deadhead Roses
Snip off any spent roses. Allow as many leaves to remain as possible. Extra foliage protects the canes from sunburn and provides more tissue for photosynthesizing and nutrient production. If dead blossoms are left behind, they signal the bush to start making seeds (rose hips). We don't want the plant to expend energy on seeds and reproduction, but rather put forth more foliage and prepare for more blooms when the temperatures cool.
Don't Fret Half-Moons on Foliage
You may see carefully cut semi-circles on the edges of rose leaves and other smooth foliage, such as bougainvillea. This is the handiwork of leafcutter bees who use the material to construct narrow, tubular nests. These bees do no harm to the plant. They do not ingest the foliage, so applying any sort of insecticide is worthless. Bees are excellent pollinators, so be happy they are visiting your area!
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