4 minute read
Rose Report
Another rose growing season is coming to a close. Continuing to deadhead will interfere with the process of shutting down for winter. Instead, just pluck the spent petals off but leave the rest in place. Fall blooms will generally be bigger and the colors more intense than in the summer; so, yes, go ahead and cut blooms to enjoy indoors. Remember to continue watering if there is not one inch of rain per week.
Black spot is a common disease of roses that we are usually concerned about as temperatures rise in damp weather in the spring. The infection often times seems to lessen in the heat of the summer; but it can reappear as temperatures moderate in the fall, especially if there is abundant rain and if antifungal spraying has tapered off or stopped as the season progressed. So, if black spot is a problem in your garden, antifungal spraying should be continued into the fall. To reduce the emergence of black spot next spring, remove leaf litter and infected leaves before providing winter protection.
Now is a good time to assess how your roses did during the growing season. How well did they grow? How well did they bloom? Did they lose most of their leaves to black spot? Were they a disappointment? Visit the Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden in Loose Park to see which roses did well there. This will give you ideas for roses to replace underperforming ones in your own garden.
Fall is a good time to prepare the soil for spring planting. Start by obtaining a soil test, which can be done through the local Extension Office. Roses do best when the soil pH is between 6.0 and 6.5. Adjusting pH can start as part
of initial soil preparation. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium can be added during the growing season, but should not be used in the fall. In our area most soils can benefit from added organic matter, usually in the form of compost. This is accomplished by incorporating a 2- to 4-inch layer of organic matter into the top 12 inches or so of soil. If bare root roses are going to be planted, holes for them can even be predug in the fall.
Further information about rose care can be found at www. kansascityrosesociety.org/growing-roses. Specific questions can be sent to kcrosehelp@gmail. com. And, information about any of the roses grown in the Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden at Loose Park in Kansas City, MO can be accessed at www.kcroselibrary.com.
Photos by Glenn Hodges.
Floribunda ‘French Lace’ Hybrid Tea ‘Moonstone’
GLENN HODGES, Master Rosarian
Glenn is an Extension Master Gardener in Johnson County, KS, an American Rose Society (ARS) Master Rosarian, and an ARS Accredited Horticulture Judge. He has been growing roses in Lenexa, KS since 1974 and successfully exhibiting roses since 1998.
Become an Extension Garden Steward
Gardening remains one of American’s most popular pastimes – it is good for the heart and soul! Want to learn more to make your garden grow next year? Enroll in the fall Extension Garden Stewards course by MU Extension. Basic horticulture knowledge will help you succeed in growing a beautiful garden while improving your environmental stewardship. This shortened version of the Extension Master Gardener Training course will be offered online Wednesdays, Oct. 26 - Nov. 30, 3:30-4:30pm (5 sessions, no meeting Nov. 23).
The focus is on the basics: site assessment, vegetable gardens and food safety, care of ornamentals, insects and IPM, and environmental stewardship. No volunteering is required unless you wish to join as an AmeriCorps Senior. Scholarships are available. For more information, contact MU Field Specialist in Horticulture Dr. Tamra Reall, reallt@ missouri.edu or Horticulture Instructor Cathy Bylinowski, bylinowskic@missouri.edu. To access the registration form, visit this link- https://extension.missouri.edu/events/extension-garden-steward
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