Head Over Heels Over Roses                                            Upper South

Love tends to sneak up on you when you least expect it. How was I to know that a stint working at a local garden center would rekindle my love affair with roses? Over the last few months as I've watched my own reactions to the various roses, I've reached several conclusions.

Hybrid Teas Have a Place
At the garden center, hybrid tea varieties predominated, and probably three out of four customers have wanted hybrid teas. One key to successfully growing hybrid teas is being very picky about which varieties you choose. Some of our favorit hybrid teas are: Tahitian Sunset, Elle, and Memorial Day.

Try Organic Methods
Consider trying organic pest control techniques. First and foremost, that means siting the plant correctly and preparing the soil well with compost and manure. No matter what, some roses will require some pest control. The best of the safest include a modification of the Cornell University horticultural oil and baking soda formula, the Bordeaux mixture of copper sulfate and hydrated lime, and neem oil products.

The original Cornell formula is 2 tablespoons fine horticultural oil, 1 tablespoon mild liquid soap (such as Palmolive), and 1 heaping tablespoon baking soda in a gallon of water. Optional additions include 1 tablespoon fish emulsion and/or liquid seaweed and 5 to 7 drops of liquid plant vitamins.

Be Adventurous
Experiment with combining various roses with other plants. One of my favorite combinations is the unusual 'Hot Cocoa' rose with 'Mrs. Bradshaw' geum and 'Paprika' yarrow.