A rose is a rose is a rose…

Preparing for the splendor

By lisa cullen

The Rose is one of the oldest flowers known to man. first cultivated about 5,000 years ago in China, it is said that the emperor at the time of Confucius had 600 books in his library dedicated to their care. The Rose garden of the empress of france, Josephine, contained an astonishing 2,562 roses and included every known variety.

Roses take a bit more work than Ceanothus, but I think they are worth the extra effort. With a small amount of knowledge anyone can have nice Roses.

Location, Location, Location

This mantra doesn’t just apply to Real estate. Roses want sun (at least 5 hours a day), good airflow and good drainage. If you have clay soil you would do better to build raised beds. When planning a dedicated “Rose Garden” allow at least 3 feet between each plant. hybrid Tea Roses and floribundas (such as Peace and Julia Child) are best planted in their own designated area, as they need special treatment. In contrast, Landscape Roses (such as Icebergs) can be integrating into your existing landscape and are practically year-round bloomers. once you have selected the location, prepare for planting. The holes should be 18” deep and about 2 feet across. Amend the soil in a ratio of about 50% Rose Planting mix and 50% native soil. mix it really well, put some Bone meal at the bottom of the hole and then plant your Rose. If you replace a Rose in your garden, be sure to clean out all of the old soil and use new soil and new amendments, never put a new Rose in an old hole.

Choosing Roses

When selecting Roses, shop at one of the local nurseries rather than the big chain stores. The local nursery will only stock varieties that thrive in our zone and will take the time to help you choose the perfect rose for you.

Winter is a good time to plant new roses, particularly because January is bare root season, when you can get the best value for your money.

The best place to buy Roses in Santa Barbara is La Sumida Nursery (165 S. Patterson Ave). They have a very large selection and the expertise to guide your purchase.

Rose Care Basics

After planting, apply a thick layer of mulch and water roses well. feed them mid-march and again in June. It is important to stay away from chemicals. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides kill microorganisms in the soil that the plants need to thrive. A number of excellent organic Rose foods are available at your local nursery. A weekly application of compost tea and spraying with a natural soap and water solves most pest problems, so there is never a need to resort to toxic chemicals.

Continue to “dead head” your roses to keep them flowering. Around September cut them back by about a third and feed one last time. This will ensure a beautiful new round of flowers in 60-70 days. each year Roses need a 2-3 month “rest”. When November rolls around, stop dead heading, allow them to make hips and do nothing but water. Pruning mid-January “wakes them up” and they start growing again.

If you want to learn how to prune roses, volunteer mid-January at the Rose garden across from the Santa Barbara mission, where you’ll get instruction from master Rosarians. Also, in January, there are free rose pruning workshops at La Sumida Nursery.

Lisa Cullen, landscape designer and organic gardener owns Montecito Landscape with her husband, Chris. She can be reached at 805.969.3984 or www.montecitolandscape.com. Follow her blog at www.gardengossipsb.blogspot.com and listen to Garden Gossip radio show on AM1290, Fridays at 11am and 9pm and Saturdays at 11am