Regional Growing Guide: Northern California Coastal & Inland Valleys
Mild, rainy winters are a signature of this region, which stretches from Seattle to San Francisco, and from the Pacific Ocean to the Cascade and Sierra ranges. Fall through spring, the northernmost parts may see more rain than sun. The experts advise a two-prong approach: select the many disease-resistant roses now available; and drench the soil and spray the canes and emerging buds in early spring with a generous dose of compost tea. Gardeners will be rewarded with a first flush of blooms in late spring, followed by waves of perfect buds and flowers all summer, and a final round of flowering in October and November.
Select a season: Spring Early Summer Late Summer Fall
Bare-Root Roses
February is your last chance to purchase and plant roses in bare-root form. Bare-root stock adapts better to native soils, and the selection is better. Select plants with healthy looking wood and no broken branches, and the roots should show signs of moisture inside the package.
Spray Dormant Roses
After you have completed the major pruning of your roses it's a good idea to spray with a dormant oil to kill any insect eggs that might have overwintered on the bark of the plants. After mild winters, the insect population will hatch in good form when the weather finally turns warm. A Bordeau mixture of horticultural oil and copper will help prevent problems.
Clean Soil Under Rose Plants
To prevent the spread of fungus disease on new rose foliage, make sure the soil under the plant has been raked clean of last years fallen debris. Fungus spores are carried by water splashing back onto the plant. Removing the fallen leaves will help eliminate the problem of powdery mildew, black spot, and rust, all common fungus diseases on roses.
Prune Trees to Provide More Light for Roses
Roses perform best in full sun. If you have deciduous trees near your rose garden, prune them now while they are dormant to allow more sun to enter your rose bed. Hurry up though, spring is right around the corner!
Give Your Roses a Coffee Break
Use coffee grounds as fertilizer for roses. They are high in nitrogen and decompose quickly. Simply scatter the coffee grounds directly onto the surface of the soil around plants.