Regional Growing Guide: Lower 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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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.

Start With the Soil
Begin by providing a quality growing bed. Whether your soil is sand, clay, or loam, it will benefit from generous additions of organic matter and by building up a raised planting bed. This insures a great growing environment for roots, good water and nutrient retention, and good drainage. Rose roots can't swim.

Let the Sun Shine In
Light shining on leaves makes carbohydrates that plants need for growth and blooms. If roses don't get at least six hours of sun a day (more is better) the bush will survive but you'll have to get blooms from the local flower shop. Give your roses full sun and they'll give you a dozen bouquets of bloom in return.

Feed Them Regularly
There are as many special rose fertilizer blends as there are companies selling fertilizer, maybe even more. I have found that a plain ol' 3-1-2 ratio turf fertilizer keeps my roses vigorous and blooming well. Many other rose experts have told me the same thing. Most garden soils in our region already have lots of phosphorus, the middle number. But if you want to be sure, have your soil tested first. Apply the fertilizer in small doses every 6 weeks from spring to late summer.

Water Wisely
If you want lots of blooms you'll need to water with a deep soaking every 5 days or so to keep the plants healthy and vigorous. They will survive on much less water once established, but they will not bloom up to their potential. The daily sprinkling only promotes disease problems.

Pest Patrol
Keep an eye out for mites and aphids, two common pests. They can be controlled with a variety of low-toxicity products if they become troublesome. Black spot and powdery mildew love to show up to spoil the show. The best way to deal with them is to select resistant varieties. If you have roses that struggle with one or both of these diseases, your local garden center can suggest some effective low-toxicity options for control.

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!