Regional Growing Guide: Middle South
Hot, hazy and humid describes much of the year in this region, where roses commence their first peak of bloom by Mother's Day, then continue budding out and blooming through December. While most of the rain comes during winter and early spring, fierce afternoon thunderstorms, nor-easters and even hurricanes may blow through during summer months. The soil may be acidic or sandy: amending with lime helps balance the pH, while compost provides nutrients and improves drainage. The best roses are heat tolerant and resist black spot: new roses often offer improved repeat blooming as well.
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Roses For Every Landscape
Roses are for everyone, everywhere. It's just a matter of choosing the right rose for your needs. Hybrid teas, for example, produce some of the best cut flowers, while rugosas make excellent hedges.
Shrub Roses
My personal favorites are the shrub roses. They do double duty as both great landscape plants and blooming roses. So even when they aren't in bloom, they are attractive in the landscape. Breeders have begun to release a lot of wonderful new shrub roses. Many have excellent disease resistance -- a key trait if you want a low-maintenance rose.
Climbers
Climbing roses are underutilized in most landscapes. That is too bad because they offer such versatile beauty and bring a vertical element into the garden. Vigorous types are excellent on an arbor or trained along a fence. Some work well trained to a post or pillar. Plant one to cover an arched entryway or train one to a brick or rock wall.
Miniatures
Miniature roses make attractive additions to ornamental beds. They are well adapted to large containers, which means even an apartment dweller can grow roses. Some roses, while not miniatures, are small-statured and do well in a large container.
Growing Tips
Do a little investigating before you buy a rose. There are many wonderful varieties to choose from with various bloom forms, colors, and scents. Then take care to provide a home for your new rose where it can thrive.
Give roses lots of sun ... the more the better. If you plant them in a semi-shady spot, they will grow but may not bloom well.
Prepare the soil well and keep it moist. Roses like a soil that is well drained and has lots of compost added. I like to use a "chunky" compost made from bark because it tends to hold up well for a long time. While roses detest poor drainage, they need some dependable soil moisture to perform their best.
Fertilize regularly. Keep the roses growing by feeding them every month or two from spring through late summer. This is especially important for types that repeat bloom throughout the year.
Control pests, diseases, and weeds. If pests are allowed to get out of hand, they will weaken the plants and slow down the bloom show. Weeds rob plants of moisture and nutrients. Mulching is the best way to prevent most weed problems.
So don't delay. With a rose for every landscape, you don't want to miss out on another season of beautiful blooms!
A Twilight Rose Garden
Imagine coming home in the early evening twilight to a doorway flanked by luminous white rose blossoms. If work keeps you away from home during the day, evening might be the best time to enjoy your garden. If so, plan a garden area specifically for savoring flowers at twilight. White-flowered roses are a perfect choice to flank a deck, sunroom, or to plant near the window where you spend your evening hours.
Plants that bloom in colors of white, butter yellow, and the palest of pinks and lavenders stay bright after dusk and are the best choices for your twilight garden. Choose fragrant rose varieties, or be sure to include other fragrant flowers, such as Oriental lilies, alyssum, and nicotiana. Some flowers are especially fragrant at night.
Elegant Companions
Adding roses to your beds will bring light and fragrance up closer to eye level. Surrounding roses with a textured carpet of silver-leaved plants, such as mounding artemisia, heightens the effect. Intersperse these with dark-leaved plants to make the white and silver jump out. You'll be rewarded with a simple, elegant, and charming garden.
Hardscapes
A comfortable garden bench or swing completes the scene. Or, if you prefer to walk rather than sit, create a winding pathway among your evening plants. Use silver-leafed thyme between the stepping stones, and its woodsy fragrance will be released as you brush by the plants. Edge the path with silvery gray lamb's ears to help guide your ngihttime strolls, adding an occasional white impatiens or two in shady spots to create beautiful snowy mounds of brightness. Subtle, well-placed landscape lighting can enhance the effect.
In our workaday world, we may have limited time on weekdays to enjoy our gardens. A twilight garden allows us to enjoy our flowerbeds all week long.