Rose Care, Charleston Lowcountry Rose Society

Proper Planning Promotes Positive Performance
By John Godwin

In the business world, "PPPPP" is an acronym for "Proper planning promotes positive performance." This is not only true for business ventures but successful rose gardens as well. A bad rose plan is to get a rose catalogue and order roses based on the glowing accolades and flawless pictures generated by the supplier. Keep in mind that you are reading a sales pitch, not a factual review. An even worse plan is to go to the local garden center, become enamored with all the low- priced roses with the pretty labels and load up a shopping cart. Both of these actions will probably cause a lot of unnecessary grief and frustration later.

At garden centers I watch with amusement as shoppers avoid the higher quality roses and grab up a load of inferior roses due to the "bargain" prices. I see them use the rose picture on the wrapping for selection criteria. I really wonder what those gardens will look like next spring.

Before you buy the first rose bush, here are some questions to ask yourself:

What sort of location is the planned garden going to have in terms of sunlight?
How much amending is my soil going to need to make a good bed?
Is the garden going to be free of predator roots from nearby trees shrubs, etc.?
Are the roses going in pots or beds?
How much time per week do I have to work in the garden?
Am I willing to spray for fungal diseases and insects?
Do I want roses that freely bloom all season with lots of sprays in the garden or have long stems for vase cutting?
What size roses are going to fit in my yard?

In order to help you answer the questions consider the following characteristics about roses.

Hybrid Teas. Require a well drained bed rich in organic matter and free of predator roots. Periodic feeding with a balanced chemical fertilizer is necessary for good bloom production. Organic materials need to be added each year to enrich the soil. A spraying program is required to prevent black spot and mildew. Spacing needs to be on 3 foot centers. Flower production varies with the cultivar but is generally upright with long stems and large blooms. At least 8 hours of sunlight is necessary for good production. Can be potted in large containers (at least 12 gallons)

Miniatures. Beds, feeding, spraying and sunlight are the same requirements as Hybrid Teas except the beds can be smaller and the feeding in smaller amounts. Spacing can be on 18 inch centers. Miniatures are also more prone to spider mites as their foliage is very close to the ground and more dense. They bloom heavily throughout the growing season in sprays if not disbudded. Potting in 5 gallon pots works well if water is maintained.

Floribundas. Same requirements as hybrid teas. The growth habits are shorter and more spreading than HTs but with more blooms usually borne in clusters. The blooms can range from hybrid tea form to single petal depending on the cultivar.

Shrubs and Old Garden Roses. There is a very wide range from which to choose. Most have large growth habits and are planted strickly for landscaping due to their beauty and fragrance. Maintenance is generally less for these varieties in terms of spraying, feeding and watering. Some varieties can even tolerate shade and tree roots. Some are as small as 3 to 4 feet while others can climb to amazing heights. These varieties are usually fragrant and are used on trellises and fences for landscaping due to their growth habits. Some bloom only in spring while others repeat bloom all season. It is important to research the variety before buying for growth habits and bloom production.

After objectively thinking through what kind of garden you want and how much time can be devoted there, you are on the right road to a good garden decision. After settling on the varieties you want, you need reliable information on their growth habits, feeding requirements, blooming characteristics and disease resistance to make the plan come together.

I cannot stress enough the need to research these roses before buying. For example, some roses work well in cool climates and do very poorly in warm climates. The best source for this research is your local society. The rosarians there can really give you some quality help. Having this information prior to starting your garden is so much better than dealing with a preventable problem later. There is certainly no need to repeat the mistakes that others have made in the past. Someone said, "He who fails to study history is doomed to repeat it." This quip is certainly true for rose gardening. I once stated that trial and error is a very tough unforgiving teacher. I know this to be true from my own past experiences.

If you cannot attend the society meetings, there are other ways to get this information.
Join a rose society if only for their informative newsletter.
Call a rosarian. They are there to help you.
The internet is loaded with a wealth of information.
Talk with an expert at your local garden center.
Buy a good book on rose culture or borrow some from the public library.

Your first impression might be that all this research sure sounds like a lot of trouble. But I can assure you that a lot of disappointment and frustration can be avoided with a well thought out plan backed up with good information. After all, you want a rose garden that gives you and your friends a lot of pleasure and is a source of personal pride. Avoid the "bargains" and pretty pictures and seek out the reliable sources. Your local rosarians and society are waiting on your call.

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