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.
Select a season: Spring Early Summer Late Summer Fall
Trim Hybrid Teas
Trim hybrid tea, floribunda, and grandiflora roses to remove diseased limbs and faded blossoms, but wait until the plants become dormant to begin hard pruning. Pruning too early can force out new growth that will be killed by winter's cold.
Plan Winter Protection
Plan now to provide winter protection for the graft union at the base of grafted roses, as well as the latent buds on low branches. Chicken wire cages stuffed with clean wheat straw work well, or you can mound pine straw over the base of dormant plants.
Collect Rose Hips
Need an excuse to go for a walk in the autumn woods? Take along a small container and collect rose hips from wild roses, many of which are invasive plants anyway. At home, rinse the hips clean, pat them dry, and then string them with a needle and thread before hanging them in a cool, dry place.
Dry Petals for Potpourri
To make the last roses of summer last through winter, dry the petals in a box or pan for several days before storing them in airtight containers. Red and dark pink petals dry better than light-colored ones, which show more bruises and brown spots.
Compost Old Mulch
To interrupt the life cycles of black spot and other fungal diseases, gather up old mulch from your rose garden and compost it. Replace it with fresh pine straw or wheat straw, both of which are now in good supply.