Rose Garden
Roses, "the Queen of Flowers," grace the entrance to the All America Selections Garden. The roses in this garden are disease resistant and serve as a trial for this important feature. Because it is a trial garden, a few of the varieties may change from year to year to test for the degree of resistance. The following describes these roses and explains cultural considerations.
Disease Resistant Roses
Long labeled the "Prima Donnas" of the garden, roses have endured a reputation for being too demanding, care wise, for the average gardener to grow successfully. Their susceptibility to diseases, such as blackspot and powdery mildew, and the need to spray with chemicals in order to keep them looking good are often cited as major flaws. Often the desire to grow roses clashes with the limited time available to care for them. Armed with a list of old and new roses and basic knowledge of horticultural practices, every gardener can incorporate disease resistant roses into their home landscapes.
Compact and flowering in clusters, floribundas are more disease resistant then the flashy hybrid tea roses. Rugosa roses, with their crinkly leaves and wonderful ornamental hips, remain disease free all season long. Old Garden Roses have a reputation as being less disease prone but choose wisely because this is not always true. Landscape and shrub roses such as the "Knock Out", "Carefree" and "Flower Carpet" series are not just floriferous but also extremely disease resistant and low maintenance. Consider how you will be using roses in your landscape and choose the type of roses accordingly. Shrub roses make wonderful hedges, floribundas liven up the middle of an existing sunny perennial bed, and a "Knock Out" rose can provide a colorful focal point. Remember to allow each rose the space it needs to shine.
After carefully choosing a disease resistant rose to plant in your garden, it is important to remember some basic information to succeed with any rose. Assess the site that you have chosen. This includes: testing the soil pH (6-6.5), the drainage (sandy loam soil is best), the amount of sunlight received (at least 4- 6 hours), and the presence of good air circulation.
A healthy rose is less prone to disease so make sure that it receives adequate water (1-1.5 inches/week) and food. Water your bushes from below to prevent the wetting of leaves. Wet leaves invite disease. A drip watering system is ideal. Remember that in the heat of summer your roses will require more water to decrease the effects of stress. Be sure to water your roses well before and after fertilizing. Always fertilize according to the direction on the package. Roses appreciate supplemental feedings of organic matter such as alfalfa, fish emulsion, and kelp. Mulch to keep out weeds that compete for water and food with your roses. Mulching will also keep moisture in and maintain soil at a constant temperature.
Basic maintenance chores should include keeping your garden beds clean. Remove any spent petals or fallen leaves from under bushes. Discard these in the garbage can, not in the compost pile. Deadheading (removal of spent flowers) will keep roses blooming and allows you to shape bushes as the season goes by. Take the time to remove any leaves left on your bushes at the end of the season. Disease spores can over winter on the previous seasons foliage. Water roses deeply before the ground freezes in late fall. Always make sure that your bypass pruners are clean and sharp. A jagged, unclean cut offers an opportunity for the introduction of disease. Do everything you can to ensure your success.
Absolutely no chemicals are sprayed in this garden to maintain the health of these roses. This garden proves that it is possible to grow lovely, healthy roses without the use of pesticides. Additions to the garden will be made as newer, disease resistant roses become available.
To see a map of the rose garden and to see what types of roses are planted, along with further information, click on the rose below to view a "pdf" file showing the garden's design.
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| Last updated March 31, 2007
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