Rose Care

Southerners seem to have a particularly strong love for roses. Perhaps it is because
of the beautiful old fashioned roses that grew in Grandma's garden, or perhaps it is
that we are so spoiled by having such a long growing season. In any event, there
are a lot of roses around here!

May is the beginning of the blooming season in Tuscaloosa,zone 7b , while zones 8
and 9 have been enjoying them for a few months now. But for all parts of the
South, May is the time to start watching your roses carefully for signs of diseases
and pests.

Prevention is the key word when trying to deal with roses. First, make sure the
culture is right. Roses need at least 6 hours of sun a day and must have well-drained
soil. Roses will not tolerate "wet feet" which is a term for an area that does not drain
quickly after a rain.If you have such a spot and want to grow roses there, a raised
bed is perfect. If your soil is not soggy, but your soil is clay, amend it with some
organic matter. The same advice is true for extremely light sandy soil. Roses don't
want to stay wet, but they do need water! As a general rule, roses need about one
inch of water per week.

Secondly, it is important to know that antique roses (also known as old garden
roses) such as the damask roses, china roses, and bourbon roses to name a few,
along with shrub roses are going to take much less maintenance than hybrid teas,
grandifloras, and floribundas. Why? They are less susceptible to disease and they
require less pruning.

Pests

There are lots and lots of nasty little bugs which can invade your rose garden, but
the most common are aphids, thrips, and spider mites. Aphids are semi-transparent
greenish yellow and you will find them on new growth and particularly on flower
buds. There is another type of aphid which is black and very small (similar to a
large poppy seed) common to the South, but in our experience they seem to be
partial to hibiscus. But keep a look out for them anyway. Thrips are an insect you
will not usually see until your blossoms on your roses are distorted. They hide inside
the buds and feed on the petals and pollen. Spider mites are often a major problem
during hot dry weather. They will live on the undersides of the leaves, turning them
bronze and yellow, and later you will notice their web which can envelop part (or all
if severe enough) of the plant. All of these can be controlled with a pesticide.
Sometimes, depending on the severity of the infestations, aphids can be controlled
with insecticidal soap.

Diseases

Blackspot is the primary affliction of roses. It is particularly a problem in the
warmer more humid regions of the South; it is so bad in some places that many
people have decided to stop growing tea roses ,which are the most popular,
altogether. You will recognize black spot in that the leaves will turn yellow or red,
and you will see black spots on the leaves! The leaves will fall off (defoliate) leaving
you with a very weak rose. Prolonged neglect of blackspot will result in death to
the plant. There is one way to control blackspot, and that is prevention. In the areas
where it is a big problem, a preventative dose of a fungicide such as one
recommend by a local nursery every seven to ten days is the only way to control it.
In areas where black spot is not inevitable, use a fungicide when you first see a
diseased leaf. It is very important also to water in the morning! Fungal diseases are
spread through water, and when you water at night, it takes that much longer for the
leaves to dry out before the sun has a chance to do its job. Secondly, and this is
very important but not very much fun, is to pick up the diseased leaves and dispose
of them. Since fungal diseases spread through water again, the rain can splash down
on the diseased leaves spreading the fungus right back up onto the rose.

You should keep on a lookout for powdery mildew. This is also a fungal disease,
but it grows under exact opposite conditions as black spot. Powdery mildew likes
dry weather. You will know you have powdery mildew when you see a grayish film
on the top of the leaves, and the leaves become distorted. This disease can kill the
rose and should be treated with a fungicide when it is first noticed. It will most likely
take several applications to knock it out, and the distorted leaves will never regain
their original appearance. That is why it is important to "nip it in the bud!"

Pruning Roses

Roses that bloom once such as Climbers,rambling Roses and some shrub roses
should be pruned after flowering.

Roses that are ever blooming or bloom throughout the season such as hybrid
teas,grandifloras and floribundas, Prune the plants just beforeit starts to grow(Mid
to late February in Alabama). Use sharp pruning shears or loppers. First remove all
the dead or diseased canes. Next, thin out the middle of the bush so the cane has
plenty of space. Shape the bush so new growth is directed away from the center.
Locate a healthy bud and make a 45 degree angle cut about 1/4 inch above this
bud. Coat each cut with pruning paint or glue to seal it and keep out pest. Cut each
cane in this manner so the bush is reduced by up to 2/3 its original size.