Roses A Love/Hate Relationship

By Linda Sutherland

Yes, I am here to talk about roses again. This beautiful shrub with a reputation for being difficult to grow and prone to disease has always been a favorite of mine. Who can resist them? At the same time, who exactly can grow them without pulling out their hair? Let’s dissect the trouble with roses.

Roses are delicate, high-maintenance plants. Think of your friend in high school who always needed to be fussed about and you have a good idea of the characteristics of roses. Roses are vulnerable to many diseases, and their inability to fight off disease is legendary. That said, gardeners can take some steps at different times during the growing season to help produce strong plants.

First and, perhaps, most importantly, make sure that your rose bushes have access to a minimum of six hours of sunlight per day. I have tried several times to grow roses in a not-so-sunny location, and it never goes well…for me or for the rose bush. Sunlight is essential for roses! They do not thrive in shady spots.

Once you have found the sunny spot for your roses, make sure the soil is rich in organic material and that the area you’ve chosen drains well. Although roses require lots of water, they do not like to be soggy. The best time to water them is in the morning. Try to avoid water getting on the leaves. If you cannot avoid getting the leaves wet, morning watering makes it more likely that they’ll be completely dry by sundown.

Roses, like your friend from high school, like good doses of fertilizer to make them flourish. Let me be clear that “old” garden roses and shrub roses do not require as much work, but they are not my favorite. Give me a hybrid tea, grandiflora, or floribunda rose any day. I love seeing them in full bloom in the garden, but I also love to use them in arrangements. In that respect, they never disappoint.

Tea, grandiflora, and floribunda roses all require frequent grooming, fertilizing, spraying (for insects) and, of course, watering. Do not let this deter you from striving for the beauty that only roses can bring! Pruning and cutting your roses does encourage new growth throughout the season, and they are pretty good at taking a heavy trimming. These flowers of love start blooming in May and carry on right into fall.

Bare-root roses should be planted between November and March, while container roses (at your local nursery) can be planted in the spring or fall. When you plant roses, you want to consider the growth size of the bushes and leave enough room for them to spread out. In the beginning, it may seem like there is too much of a gap between them, but they need room to breathe and grow. I always plant mine with a southern exposure because they seem to handle the afternoon sun with less difficulty. These darling fusspots prefer a slightly acidic soil.

The most common disease that occurs in roses is powdery mildew, which is a white, powdery growth on leaves, shoots, and buds. This mildew is a fungus with microscopic spores that can spread the disease. A solution of baking soda and water can be sprayed on the leaves and branches, or you can try something stronger from your local nursery.

Another troublesome disease of roses is the black spot, which infects the leaves and reduces plant vigor. If this shows up, you need to remove diseased leaves, keep the foliage dry, and use a good fungicidal spray. If it’s not kept in check, black spot can spread to other plants, so it needs to be nipped in the bud as soon as you see it. Vinegar, water, and baking soda spray are good alternatives to the chemical sprays. Extended periods of moisture is the primary culprit causing black spot.

One more dastardly fungus is rose rust. If you turn over your rose leaves and find what look like clusters of orange powder stuck to the bottom, your rose bush has the rust. This fungus can spread through water or air, though it only affects roses. Again, pick off all the offending leaves and use a good fungicide.

Rose aphids, should they arrive, can be controlled with a solution of water and soap (such as Ivory). One tablespoon of soap with one quart of water, applied with a spray bottle, should do the trick.

For me, the benefits of roses outweigh the negatives. Their array of colors, abundance of blooms, and long flowering period make them fantastic, and they give such a high ornamental value to your garden and landscaping. Don’t let their reputation intimidate you!