CARING FOR ROSES IN CHICAGOLAND

Care Tips:

• transplant roses into a well-prepared bed or container with a fertile growing medium
• site roses where they will receive at least six hours of full sun per day (morning sun is best)
• ensure an adequate supply of water to a well-drained bed
• prune in early spring
• apply mulch during May
• follow a regular pest control program

How To Plant Roses

If the weather prevents immediate planting, ensure roses are kept cool and their roots moist. Do not store for more than three days.

Dig a hole large enough to allow for natural root spread and deep enough just to cover the bud union or graft. If planting bare-root roses, mound soil up around the rose stems to a height of six to eight inches to prevent them from drying out. Remove the soil mound once growth begins (usually within 10 to 14 days).

Stake tree roses at the time of planting to prevent damage and breakage.

Roses need regular watering throughout the growing season. Apply the water directly to the soil, keeping the foliage dry.

Feed roses with a granular fertilizer such as Ortho Rose Pride Systemic Rose & Flower Care, following the instructions on the package.

Test the soil's pH level during fall. Roses thrive in a pH level of 6.5 - 6.0. If the soil is less than 5.0, it is too acidic and ground limestone should be incorporated into the growing medium. If the pH is greater than 7.5, the soil is too alkaline and needs sulphur.

Choosing Roses

Shrub roses provide an upright, dense growth that spreads rapidly. Most varieties of shrub roses are extremely hardy. Their small flowers are ideally suited for borders, slopes and rocky areas.

Climbing roses produce long canes that can be trained to climb a tree or a trellis. Most climbers flower in the spring.

Hybrid tea roses are tall, statuesque plants with large blooms, ideal for cutting. A wide variety of color and fragrances are available. Plants are bushy and around four feet tall.

Floribundas are low bushy roses that are tolerant to disease and cold spells. Used primarily in landscaping, their flowers are borne in large clusters. Ideal for borders and paths.

Polyanthas are similar to floribundas with slightly smaller flowers. They are low-growing roses, suited to borders and lining walkways and driveways.

Grandifloras are a cross between hybrid tea and floribunda roses. Flowers are large and are borne in loose clusters on shorter stems.

Miniatures are hardy, small roses. Generally they have a long blooming period. Miniatures are perfect in planter boxes and containers.

Rugosa roses grow up to two to six feet tall blooming in shades of, pink, red, yellow and white.

The Right Tools

Swiss-made field hand pruners give a clean cut that is excellent for any plant. Size #2 is the most popular, but Pasquesi Home and Farm Suppliers carries several sizes to fit any hand. The blades are replaceable.

Wells Lemont "Rose Tender" gloves for women offer snag-free protection with a 13-inch gauntlet to protect arms from rose thorns.

When Planting Roses. . .

Remember to allow for growth, spread, height differences, space and color. Be sure to select a site that receives at least six hours of morning sun and is protected from strong, drying winds.

Roses need a nutritious, pH-balanced growing medium and good drainage.

Prepare the rose bed during fall to allow early spring planting. To aerate and break up the soil, incorporate organic material such as mushroom compost to a depth of 12-18 inches.

Protecting Roses During The Winter

November is usually the best time to prepare roses for winter.

Tie canes together and mound the base of each plant with at least 10 inches of soil. Be careful not to take soil from the base of the rose exposing shallow roots.

Once the soil mound has frozen, cover with eight to 10 inches of leaves, hay or evergreen branches to keep the mound frozen. A cylinder of wire mesh will hold the insulation material in place during wind or rain.

Tree roses require extra care during the winter months. Loosen soil around the roots to bend the rose tree over to lie horizontally on the ground. Half the roots remain underground. Dig a shallow hole to hold the top of the plant. Stake trunk in place. The entire plant should be covered with four to five inches of soil.

We Recommend...

Taylors Guide to Roses
by Peter Schneider

50 Easy Old-Fashioned Roses,
Climbers and Vines
by Anne M. Zeman

Tender Roses for Tough Climates
by Douglas Green

David Austin's English Roses
by David Austin

Also, Pasquesi Home & Gardens is a complete resource for gardening, home and pet supplies. There are hundreds of beautiful accents for the home and out-of-doors, and Pasquesi Home & Gardens has an unrivaled collection of containers for indoors and outdoors in many different styles, materials and shapes. Both stores carry a wide range of quality garden tools and outdoor furniture.