Rose Report

April in the Rose Garden

Hey John, when do I uncover my roses?

I get this question every spring, and I tell people to first mail in your taxes and then go home and uncover your roses. It has nothing to do with the IRS. In the early winter we cover our grafted roses to temper the temperature variations over the winter. You do not want to uncover them too early when there is danger of freezing. In Kansas City, there is a 10 percent probability that we will get a temperature below 28°F after April 15th–Tax Day. Established rose growth can tolerate temperatures to about 28°F. In any given year, look at the weather forecast around Tax Day and if it looks unusually cold, wait a few days. If it is warmer than normal, a bit earlier will probably be alright. Hey John, “What kind of fertilizer should I use?”

Another common question. My answer is always, “I do not know.” The reason I don’t know is that I don’t know what kind of soil you have and what nutrients are in your soil. Therefore, the second part of the answer is, “Get a soil test.” You can get a soil test at either of the university extension services—Kansas State, https://www.johnson.k-state. edu/lawn-garden/soil-testing/ or the University of Missouri, https://extension.missouri.edu/ mp555. Be sure to include on the submittal form that you are growing roses. In the absence of a test, you can use any balanced fertilizer available at your garden

center. A balanced fertilizer is one that has about equal parts of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K), like 10-10-10. But you should really do your soil test first. My garden tests high for P and K so I do not want to add any more of these nutrients. Accordingly, I use ammonium sulfate, 21-0-0. It has no P or K. In addition to the nutrient levels, the soil test will tell you Veterans Honor the acidity level. Roses like the pH to be in the 6.0 to 6.5 range. This level is optimum for good nutrient uptake. Because sulfur can be used to lower the pH level in the soil, my use of ammonium sulfate with a sulfur content of 22 percent, helps to keep my soil in the right range. Hey John, “What else should I be doing in April?” Spring is a busy time in the rose garden. Your other jobs include: • Planting bare-root roses. • Pruning. • Spraying for blackspot control. Applying insect controls if needed. If you had rose midge last season, you should begin treating the soil when you uncover them. For more information on any of these topics, go to the Kansas City Rose Society webpage https://www.kansascityrosesociety.org/growing-roses.html. The Ask-a-Rosarian hotline is always available for your specific rose questions at kcrosehelp@ gmail.com. One of the Kansas City Rose Society Consulting Rosarians will send an answer, 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.

Visit Town Gardens and Country Gardens in a Beautiful Historic Town on the Missouri River Hermann, Missouri, June 4-5

The 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.