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Planting and Caring for Roses

2/2/2016

19 Comments

 
Picture
Roses can be just as drought-tolerant as California Natives.  After sustaining newly-planted roses through the first year, they can be left to fend well enough by once-a-month deep watering even through the hot summer.  I’ve found this out years ago in my Pasadena garden only because I unintentionally neglected my 30 or so rose plants in different areas of my garden while I attended to my vegetables and fruit trees.  The roses never seemed to look poorly, even though I watered them only sporadically maybe once a month; however they were well mulched.  So I never quite understood why many other gardeners disdained roses for their high maintenance and frequent spraying schedule – since I never did either. 
 
Transplanting
When transplanting roses, dig the hole a good 6 inches beyond the stretch of the roots so it’ll be easier for them to extend straight out into the native soil.  Spread roots as equally around the soil cone as possible, and cut off any broken bits and any that extend further out – you don’t want to have any curling around.  Refill the hole with the original soil, adding no compost or other organic matter, and being spare with nitrogen fertilizers, as these hasten new foliage which may be damaged by late frosts and attract aphids. Create a watering berm a good foot away from the stem, and fill it three times to completely saturate the soil in the entire area and settle in the roots.  Then add a 2” layer of organic mulch to the top to moderate soil temperature and gradually break down and distribute nutrients.
 
Fertilizing
Feed plants with a slow-release organic formulation that’s about equal in N-P-K so plants grow consistently and slowly and have the nutrients to bloom well.  Too much nitrogen at the beginning of the season will attract aphids, and at the end of the season will foster greenery that’ll perhaps be damaged by frost and not allow the plant to go dormant.  In Southern California, this is especially important since we’ve had so little really cold weather over the last several years.  
 
Reducing Potential for Problems
Aphids
To make roses less attractive to aphids, make a point of NOT feeding with high-nitrogen fertilizer the previous fall and winter. It’s that wonderfully succulent new growth that the aphids are after.  When they do appear, put on gloves and smash them – and leave the aphid-mush in place to deter future generations!
 
Powdery Mildew
Spray the plants -- especially new growth -- with plain water from a hose with a spray head two or three times a week, making sure to cover leaf undersides. Roses that appear to be resistant to powdery mildew include Double Delight, Honor, Iceberg, and Cary Grant.
 
Enabling Longer-Lasting Blooms In A Vase
In a university trial, roses were cut when in bud and put in vases of 72-degree water, making sure no foliage was below the water line. Every two days, the stems were cut back about 1/4 inch, and new water was added. Blooms were judged for color, substance, retention of petals, and overall appearance. While all of the roses lasted at least four days, Olympiad and Touch of Class remained in good condition for a full nine days. Red, pink, and orange roses lasted the longest, as did those having many petals mainly due to their slower opening time.


19 Comments
Katarina Eriksson
2/17/2016 03:36:42 pm

Hi Yvonne, fellow Horticulturist here. I would like you to elaborate a bit more why you don't add compost when planting roses. I have been gardenings in the San Gabriel Valley, and West Los Angeles for over 30 years and I add compost or planting mix with roses (and most plants) if the soil is low in organic matter (using the squeeze soil test and sometimes soil and water in a jar test, mostly to show the client). I find the roses will do much better, the soil life and quality of soil improved. When I went to Cal Poly we did experiment on just this and hands down compost at planting time really helps the plants thrive.
I also found that just top dressing with 2 to 3" of mulch is not enough to help the roses get the organic matter since its been so hot with little rain and it dries out before adding soil nutrients. I love your posts and enjoy learning something new on occasions. Happy Gardening, Florally Yours Kat

Reply
Yvonne Savio
2/17/2016 06:00:49 pm

Hi, Katarina --
Yes, compost is a great thing for all plants, both in the planting mix and as top mulch. The critical element is the amount. The University of California did research years ago that showed that the then-prevailing recommendation of up to 50% compost in the backfill created a container effect that -- because the roots were so happy in the amended mix -- they never extended out into the native soil, and with the next rain the "container" filled with water and then the rain blew the entire mass over. So the University altered its recommendation so that the backfill should be predominantly native soil, and the compost should be used as mulch.

Reply
Laurel link
7/25/2019 03:56:10 pm

Hello, this is a great post! Do you know of any rose care classes in Los Angeles?

Reply
Yvonne Savio
7/25/2019 05:03:09 pm

Hi, Laurel -- Each of the botanical gardens offers rose care classes, especially during January pruning and planting. You can see each of their websites for which offers what when, or you can peruse my monthly compilation on my website under "Events" -- "Botanical Gardens' and Other Organizations' Garden Events"

Reply
Melissa
1/25/2020 08:35:01 am

I’ve learned so much from your site, thank you so much! I have a small area in which to plant hybrid tea roses, and am wondering how close I can plant together to get more roses in this area.

Reply
Yvonne Savio
1/25/2020 09:30:58 am

Hi, Melissa -- So nice to have lots of roses to enjoy their fragrances as well as beautiful blooms! The mature size of the rose bushes and the vitality of the soil are the critical elements to consider when determining how closely to plant them. Plant them so the mature foliage from each plant barely meets the foliage from the plant next to it. Mini-rose foliage reaches out about 12-15 inches from the main stem, so plant about 30 inches apart. Same consideration for larger roses. If soil is rich enough to support closer planting, and you want the branches of each plant to intertwine with others nearby, then plant more closely; however, this may create some confusion at pruning time since you'll have to determine which branches belong to which plants in order to choose which to prune.

Reply
Natalie link
4/27/2020 09:42:36 pm

Hi!! Wonderful post! What's the best lighting and spacing for roses in the hot summer valley in Los Angeles? I have a client that wants a full rose garden.

Reply
Yvonne Savio
10/1/2020 12:37:47 pm

Hi, Natalie -- My apologies for not responding sooner - the system didn't send me a notice of your query. Provide roses with as much sun as possible, perhaps with some late-afternoon filtered shade to shield them from our intense summer sun. Spacing will depend on the type of rose - perhaps 20 inches apart for mini-roses, 3 feet apart for hybrid teas and florabundas and grandifloras and shrub roses, and 10 feet apart for climbers that you'll trellis to go sideways like on a fence.

Reply
robert e. scott
10/1/2020 11:07:20 am

I have a question: The unopened rose sometimes is bent downward. Sometimes this is due to less sunlight or not enough water. When the bent unopened rose happens and there is plenty of sunlight and water, are there other factors or conditions I am missing to cause the bending?
Thank you for your consideration.

Reply
Yvonne Savio
10/1/2020 12:39:39 pm

Hi, Robert -- Perhaps you've applied too much water? Drooping plants of any kind react the same way for the extremes of too little and too much water.

Reply
Cindy
10/4/2020 02:16:40 pm

Hi Yvonne! Lovely post.

Just bought a house here in Pasadena (near the gardens/ university) - unsure of what rose to plant for front yard landscaping but more importantly when to purchase and plant!

The heat and fires have been horrible this year - these roses would be in Full Sun all day - any recommendations? - Overwhelmed and frustrated w/ all online info - not a lot of local resources

Reply
Yvonne Savio
10/4/2020 03:40:54 pm

Hi, Cindy -- There certainly are a billion varieties of roses, so your best bet is to choose a flower color and bush shape that pleases you. Visit local nurseries in January for their selection and recommendations; that's the time to purchase and plant. Next June, visit all three of our local botanic gardens with great rose gardens - the Huntington, Arboretum, and Descanso - to create your wishlist for others to add.

Reply
allen
2/8/2021 04:47:14 pm

Great information! I have a drip system for my new roses this year, what schedule and amount should be given.
Thanks

Reply
Yvonne Savio
2/8/2021 05:12:59 pm

Hi, Allen -- Your new roses will appreciate your drip watering system as long as you try to match the soil type (clay or loam or sandy) with the temperatures during the times of year (winter cold, spring warm, summer hot, fall cool) and the weather (rainy, dry, warm, hot). Your goal is to keep the soil moist like a wrung-out sponge but not wet or dry. During current weather with cold soil moistened from a recent rain, you'll not water with the drip system. When the soil dries out some in late February and March, you'll schedule watering maybe once every 2 weeks. When it gets warmer and we no longer have rain, through the summer, perhaps once a week. In fall, maybe back to once every 2 weeks. Make your settings, then test the soil to make sure it's neither wet nor dry, and adjust accordingly. After a year or so, you'll be familiar in "tuning" the drip system according to the weather.

Reply
Patrick Brock
7/23/2021 10:15:18 am

I want to plant miniature roses next year can you advise me what is the best mix of soil to plant these miniature roses in
I live in the valley and the area is without any shade whatsoever

Reply
Yvonne Savio
7/23/2021 11:54:37 am

Hi, Patrick -- Mini roses are no different from "regular" roses in their soil requirements, and that's wide-ranging from sandy to loam to clay. Your best bet is the same as for plants in general - loam. Minis are on their own roots. Take care in planting.

Reply
Gunnar
12/27/2021 06:39:23 pm

How necessary is winter dormancy for rose health? If it is necessary, what are the minimums required?

Reply
Yvonne
4/30/2022 10:52:50 am

Hi, Gunnar -- My apologies for just now seeing your query. Yes, like for people, "sleeping" recuperates the plants' energies. Each variety requires different amounts, but the amounts aren't any where near what fruit trees need, so roses generally do ok with whatever amount comes naturally. One way you can augment "putting them to sleep" is to remove all foliage to force the plants to take a rest.

Reply
Beth Wilson link
6/20/2022 08:38:25 am

Do you know a good place to buy miniature roses?

Reply



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