Dreaming of the Perfect Rose  Roses are the queen of landscape flowers. Nothing entrances gardeners like a rose. Who can resist stopping to gaze at a rose blossom or to lean over for a whiff of the fragrance. When special days arrive, roses lead the way to the bud vase as a favorite cut flower. These wonderful plants offer so many landscape options. Shrubs, climbers, and miniatures provide a variety of choices. Add to this the many classes of roses and a dizzying multitude of bloom colors, shades, and forms. Then consider the fragrances. Some have a light tea-like aroma. Others remind the senses of baby powder or many other subtle fragrances. Here in the south, roses are a staple in the landscape. Our summer heat and humidity, however, and the tendency for rainy spells to not know when to "say when" can challenge the new rose grower. Yet by heeding a few simple tips we can have wonderful success with roses.  continued
Keeping Beautiful Roses Disease-Free
Roses are a favorite in so many gardens. But those gorgeous flowers are sometimes accompanied by various rose diseases and pests. Is there an alternative to regular pesticide applications to keep these beauties producing the blossoms we so covet? It is possible, but it will take a little more attention to monitoring and prevention than to just fixing a problem once it has engulfed the plant. Resistant Varieties The first practice of a good rose grower should be to grow disease-resistant roses. Visit public rose gardens, botanic gardens, or your local nursery who sells AARS winning roses. Our winners are proven to start you on your way to a successful garden.  continued
Quick Tips Fertilize Roses to Maintain Good Health Roses expend a lot of energy blooming. Feed your plants with a moderate application of a complete plant food in early fall to support good health and vigor. This supports rebloom and sends the plants into winter dormancy in prime condition. Promote Blooming By Protecting Foliage Continue to protect your roses from pests and diseases as we enter the fall season. This will insure good carbohydrate production, which promotes good bloom and good plant health going into winter.  back to Regional Gardening Guide