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Our Garden: Tips on growing roses

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The world of roses, historically a place of horticultural intrigue and fierce competition, is in a state of upheaval, one rose expert says, and may alter the gardens of enthusiasts.

Bonnie Brusseau, of Orchard Nursery Florist in Lafayette, says rose producers are being purchased by large conglomerates that have more experience in industry than in horticulture. At least one major rose grower — Jackson Perkins — has failed.

The end result, she says, is that there may be fewer roses on the market this season, and the varieties may be lacking.

Brusseau was the speaker at this week’s Our Garden class. Here are some of her tips and insights:

  • The trend these days is shrub roses, which have certain benefits over the more typical floribundas and tea roses. The roses have fewer petals but multiple blooms. They also better maintain their appearance when subjected to deer assault. If the deer eat a few of your tea roses, they may wipe out all of your blooms, Brusseau says, but the deer can munch a few blooms on a shrub rose and you may not even notice.

  • Life is too short to put up with bad roses, Brusseau says. If you have a variety that isn’t doing well or doesn’t appeal to you, pull it out and plant a different rose.

  • The best way to keep a rose thriving is to prune out older canes in the winter, and leave the newer ones. It’s also important to prune every year.

  • We consider size, color, type and aroma when choosing a rose to plant, but Brusseau suggests paying attention to the number of petals. Roses with a lot of petals take longer to open, and in cooler climates near the shore, they may never open. Conversely, roses with few petals open quickly and in inland areas where it is hotter, the rose may open in the morning and be spent by the evening. Brusseau recommends roses with petal counts of 35 and more for inland areas, 35 or less for coastal areas.

  • Be careful what products you use on roses. Brusseau especially deplores the use of systemic insecticides. They may eliminate your aphid problem with ease, but the chemical turns the entire plant toxic, killing bees, earthworms and other creatures considered beneficial to the environment. Instead, she says, use insecticidal soap, water or even your gloved hand to knock and scrape them off.

  • Brusseau also offered a recipe for a surefire rose fertilizer that is applied just twice a year, in February and August. Mix a half cup of 16-16-16 fertilizer, a half cup of bone meal, a half cup of FST, Iron Plus or Iron Sulfate, and two tablespoons of magnesium sulfate (epsom salts). Sprinkle around the rose bush and work into soil, top off with a shovelful of chicken manure and water. This recipe is good for one rose bush. For potted roses, use half the amount and add in a third feeding in May.

    Next time

    Join us for a class on starting those winter veggies — yes, it is getting to be that time.

    The free classes are at 10 a.m. Wednesdays at the Contra Costa Times, 2640 Shadelands Drive, Walnut Creek. Master gardeners are on hand to answer questions, diagnose sick plants and identify pests. Vegetable and ornamental plants also are available for sale.

    — Joan Morris

    Like us at Facebook.com/bang.home.garden; follow us at Twitter.com/gardeneditor.

    • Filed Under: garden tips

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