Rose Report April in the Rose Garden center. A balanced fertilizer is one Hey John, when do I uncover that has about equal parts of nimy roses? I get this question every trogen (N), phosphorous (P) and spring, and I tell people to first potassium (K), like 10-10-10. But mail in your taxes and then go you should really do your soil test home and uncover your roses. It first. My garden tests high for P has nothing to do with and K so I do not want to add the IRS. In the early any more of these nuwinter we cover trients. Accordingly, our grafted I use ammonium roses to temper sulfate, 21-0-0. It the temperahas no P or K. ture variaIn addition tions over the to the nutrient winter. You levels, the soil do not want to test will tell you uncover them the acidity level. Veterans Honor too early when Roses like the pH to there is danger of be in the 6.0 to 6.5 range. freezing. In Kansas City, This level is optimum for good there is a 10 percent probability nutrient uptake. Because sulfur that we will get a temperature can be used to lower the pH level below 28°F after April 15th–Tax in the soil, my use of ammonium Day. Established rose growth can sulfate with a sulfur content of 22 tolerate temperatures to about percent, helps to keep my soil in 28°F. In any given year, look the right range. at the weather forecast around Tax Day and if it looks unusuHey John, “What else should I ally cold, wait a few days. If it is be doing in April?” warmer than normal, a bit earlier Spring is a busy time in the will probably be alright. rose garden. Your other jobs include: Hey John, “What kind of fertil• Planting bare-root roses. izer should I use?” • Pruning. Another common question. • Spraying for blackspot My answer is always, “I do not control. know.” The reason I don’t know Applying insect controls if is that I don’t know what kind of needed. If you had rose midge soil you have and what nutrients last season, you should begin are in your soil. Therefore, the treating the soil when you unsecond part of the answer is, “Get cover them. a soil test.” You can get a soil test For more information on any at either of the university extenof these topics, go to the Kansion services—Kansas State, sas City Rose Society webpage https://www.johnson.k-state. https://www.kansascityrosesociedu/lawn-garden/soil-testing/ ety.org/growing-roses.html. or the University of Missouri, The Ask-a-Rosarian hotline is https://extension.missouri.edu/ always available for your specific mp555. Be sure to include on rose questions at kcrosehelp@ the submittal form that you are gmail.com. One of the Kansas growing roses. In the absence of City Rose Society Consulting a test, you can use any balanced Rosarians will send an answer, fertilizer available at your garden usually by the next day.
JOHN RILEY, Consulting Rosarian An American Rose Society Consulting Rosarian and Kansas City Rose Society Secretary, John is past president of the Johnson County Rose Society and is on the American Rose Society Board of Directors. 24
April 2022 | kcgmag.com
Visit Town Gardens and Country Gardens in a Beautiful Historic Town on the Missouri River Hermann, Missouri, June 4-5
T
he 27th Garden Tour includes both a walking tour of gardens in downtown historic Hermann and a driving tour to country gardens. The $15 ticket price includes visits to at least four private gardens both in town and in the country, including a traditional foursquare garden. Garden Tour visits may be spread over Saturday and Sunday. Tickets will be sold online before the tour at Eventeny and during the tour at Topiaries (138 E 4th) in downtown Hermann from 10-5 on Saturday and 10-3 on Sunday. Gardens close at 5PM on Saturday and 4PM on Sunday. A map to the tour gardens will be provided starting on Saturday June 4th at Topiaries, the ticket sale site. The Hermann Garden Club’s website www.hermanngardentours.com provides up-to-date events, ticket prices, links to the online ticket sale site, contact numbers, and photographs of past tour gardens. Visit the FAQS page on the website for answers to all your questions. “Like” us on Facebook at “Hermann Garden Tours.” Go to www.visithermann.com for information about lodging. The Garden Tour is always the first full weekend in June. According to Garden Tour Chair Alice Calhoun, the gardens on the 2022 Garden Tour are unique: “We have a many new gardens among both the town and country gardens. Town Tour gardens often are either lovely cottage gardens hidden behind historic homes or river-view gardens. This year they will include two traditional four-square gardens. Country Tour estate gardens tend to be much larger than Town Tour gardens and have different elements and features.” Calhoun continues, “To get an overview of the beauty of Hermann’s gardens, visit www. hermanngardentours.com, our website. There you will see gardens that have been on previous tours. And you will be amazed.” Hermann, named “the most beautiful city in Missouri” and a Missouri DREAM city, has many wineries, over 60 bed and breakfasts inns, many antique and specialty shops, and galleries. And there are excellent eateries. Plan to spend the night and spread the tour over both days. Garden Club Co-Presidents Elise Bellefontaine and Mary Fritz urge local people to support these events since “Funds raised at the Garden Tour are used for civic beautification and scholarships for local students.” One of the newest projects is the Tree Project to which the Hermann Garden Club contributed $5000 to plant trees in Lower City Park. They continue, “If you are interested in joining the Club, please contact us through our website.” For more information, visit the Hermann Garden Tours website www.hermanngardentours.com or contact the Garden Club directly at info@HermannGardenTours.com. Many of your questions are answered on the FAQs page on the Hermann Garden Tours website. For more information about lodging, shops, and restaurants, go to www. visithermann.com.
