Newbie Rose Garder

[Blisschick]

Okay, so maybe I'm not new, but I sure can't seem to get the hang of growing a good bush. With the exception of one that I ignore, none of the ones I have are doing very well. What can I do for feeble established roses aside from yanking them up and torturing new ones?

 

[Southern Gardener]

Hi Stacey,

Im not new to growing roses. At one time I had around 15 bushes and climbers, now Im down to two! I had mostly antique roses, which were supposed to be easier to grow. My two favorite climbers were Sombreuil and Zephirine Drouhin. I just dug them up a couple of weeks ago. All of my roses are or I should say were beautiful in the spring for a few weeks and by the middle of the summer they look terrible! Black spot, bugs and on some, the leaves fell off. Now, Im pretty much done with roses! I just wish I had all the money I spent on them! I hope you have better luck than I did.

 

[sgtsheart]

With the exception of one that I ignore, none of the ones I have are doing very well.

I'm no rose expert either, but I think you may have hit on at least part of the answer there.

I've never had a rose that liked me doting on it. I basically ignore them, except to sprinkle with a little sevin dust in the spring. In a way the fact that the timber companies around here release lady bugs twice a year is an added bonus; since the LB's eat the aphids. I would say just follow the grower's recommended planting procedures, nuture it thru the adjustment period, then leave it alone; checking every once in awhile to see how it's faring. I could, and just might be, totally wrong though.

 

[silkiechicken]

Yeah, I don't do so well with the growing roses thing, but after digging them up a few times, I just leave them be and chop off dead parts. They grow fine now. Key is to hold back the pampering.

 

[skeeter9]

Yep, that's what I do, too. The more I ignore them the better they do!!

 

[MeanQueenNadine]

1.) Plant garlic around the rose bush - helps keep away the nasties.

2.) Full Sun & let them have plenty of air circulation, I am in SLC, UT (DRY climate) & I still have leaf fungus problems in the spring. But only on the ones that are in partial sun & a crowded bed. For leaf fungus you can spray with milk. This year I did not bother & just let them tough it out, they look fine & are still flowering.

3.) I also throw coffee grounds around the base every month or two. This is more for my worm population then "fertilizing". The worms keep my soil from being compacted & helps with aeration.

4.) Water properly - deep water rarely - not a little a lot. If you are not sure dig a 2-3" hole and scope up some soil and RUB for moisture (your finger can NOT differentiate between Cold & Wet). If you feel moisture wait & try again later. No moisture means go ahead & water. SLOW drip is better then a quick blast.

5.) Watch for deficiencies. These usually turn up in "peculiar" looking leafs. Using a top dressing of good compost every spring & fall will help address this. I try to stay away from "chemical" fertilizers. You may wanna check out the compost tea post in the compost forum, I swear by it.

HTH
N

 

[Txchikngardners]

Fortunately my roses don't require much attention from me - I wouldn't know how to 'properly' treat them. There are a few things that I do regularly and they seem to appreciate it because they are still blooming beautifully and it's almost December!

1 - prune them in January or February - absolutely no later than Valentines Day (my mom's instructions!). I do this faithfully and mine come back bigger and better every year.
2 - dust with "Sevin Dust" two or three times in the spring. By late summer I don't have pests so there is no reason to dust anymore.
3- "dead head" old blooms (cut off blooms that die). Mom's rule of thumb was: cut off bloom just above the first set of '5' leaves -wherever that may be.

Mine are planted in an area that is shady in the morning and is in full sun for the rest of the day. I fertilize with Miracle Grow for roses about once a month and water about every 2-3 days. During the hot summer months, my DH waters every day for me

 

[Herechickchick]

Count me in on the ignoring them trend. Mine do not like me to bother them. I just let them be, what happens, happens.

 

[Rosalind]

I second the garlic suggestion. Mine love it.

Compost is good, but I never put more on my roses than I would on my veggie garden.

Rock mineral fertilizers seem to do well. A sprinkling of greensand every 5-10 years or so.

Every winter, prune 'em down and mulch with either a LOT of straw or wrap the canes in a double layer of burlap. Mine get a faster start in spring this way, so they come back bigger. When I don't do this, yeah, they look a bit straggly.

 

[aquarose]

I have two rose plants that are doing great with benign neglect. Zephrine Drouhan (or however its spelled) I bought for its ability to bloom in part shade and its fragrance. I left it sitting in its packaging for weeks when I got it 'cause there was snow on the ground. A few years later it is beginning to cover the trellis over my garden gate (with an orange honeysuckle-clashes but I don't care-its beautiful to me). I also have a Don Juan climbing rose that I also bought for fragrance. I was very cruel to it last summer, moving it in August. I thought I killed it but right now it is covered in new foliage. When buying a rose look for one that says disease resistant. I really don't do anything to either of my roses except occasional deep watering during the hottest part of the summer if I have the time and energy.