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Rosaceous Rosarian A Healthy Rose Garden: The
Scoop on Garden Management
A Healthy Rose Garden: The Scoop on Garden Management Rosarians know that roses are most glorious when in good health. We want to provide our roses a great environment in which to grow healthy, happy & beautiful! Yet there are so many things to consider, and often the issues of when, where, what, and how are overwhelming. With so much to keep track of, rosarians need some type of calendar,
schedule, or system. Most can also use more education, plus a gardening buddy
for casual tips! At our March program, GVRS will scoop up all of the above in
one Albert LaSalle, Advanced Master Gardener and GVRS member, will offer the keys to maintaining a healthy rose garden, from March through December. He will teach principals of problem solving to use as needed in your own rose garden. Albert plans to include what you need to know about when and how to spray for pests, and more. Then we get to hear how two of GVRS’s very own gardening buddies apply these principles in a way that works for their garden. Terry LaSalle, Advanced Master Gardener and GVRS member, will share when, why & how she sprays her roses, and her maintenance calendar. Alex Valencia, GVRS member, and a longtime Colorado grower and gardener, will talk about his garlic & dormant oil formula, including the critical element of correct frequency & timing for these sprayings. Join us at 7PM, March 23, 2004, at the Botanical Gardens, to get the scoop on good garden management for healthy roses. Handouts will be available on the topics covered, and you can expect our usual lively, unpredictable yet educational discussion! We're writing the book on rose growing in Western Colorado as we learn, so be there for the early draft!
Sharpen Your Pruning Skills! GVRS will be offering several opportunities to refine your pruning skills before you prune your own roses, and you'll be doing good works at the same time. It begins on Saturday, April 3rd, when we gather at the home of Roberta Forbes (3624 N. 15th St.) at 10AM to begin pruning her 43 roses. This will be a training session--hands on, so bring your pruners, loppers, and saws. Albert LaSalle will be there with his demonstration of tool cleaning and sharpening, so you'll start with tools in good shape. We'll work until we run out of jokes and food. Potluck, everyone. On Wednesday, April 14th, Curtis Swift and the Desert Vista Gardening Club will be at Lincoln Park to begin the annual pruning of the nearly 300 roses in the park. We encourage all of our members to attend and lend a hand. Albert will be there with his cleaning/sharpening demonstration, and we hope to be selling pour own GVRS pruning kits at this event. Then, it's show time for GVRS. On Saturday, April 17th, at 9AM, we'll be holding our annual pruning demonstration in the rose beds at the Botanical Gardens. This is a public-invited event, and we'll need as many members as possible to be there. We'll have tables set up for sales, Albert will perform his tool magic once again, and GVRS will show the public how to prune. Again, this is hands-on, and is one of our most important PR events. We'll begin scheduling the "shift" for workers at Roberta's pruning party. Historically, these prunings have been a blast! Be there!
Founder's Corner by Ursula Hemmerich; Founder, President Emeritus The itch to cut back my roses is this spring-like weather is something I can hardly tolerate. In this Valley if we prune too early we leave our plants open to a late freeze. If we wait to mid or late April, there is so much foliage it is truly a chore. There are several mini-roses in my garden, and I love them. If they freeze a bit, they always seem to recover. If a drought comes along, they may lose foliage or look a bit sad, but they always seem to survive. The cute minis that are for sale in the super markets generally have been forced and have little root strength. I try to buy mine from High Country Gardens, a really top grower for this area. Last year I bought several David Austins, not really as showy as our beloved hybrid teas, but their fragrance and tight blooms are a joy. I have several pruning clippers which I always have sharpened before I start the chore. It's so much easier when you have the right gadgets. Sturdy leather gloves and long sleeves are a "must". I have an informal notebook for my rose garden. At this time, while they're still dormant, I know which ones are to be transplanted because of overgrowth or shade or unhappy soil. Our soil is a real puzzle all over the Valley. We have a lot of clay, sand, and simply rocks--rocks--rocks. I cut canes back to 2 or 3 feet, then dig deeply to retain most roots. At the new site, consider the east or north side of the house to spare the summer baking other areas can cause. I also try to place them far enough away from the foundation or other items which may impact recovery. The best median sun exposure in mid summer is 3-5 hours of full sun daily. I've lived in eight different areas of the US, from tropical to very cold. We, here in the Valley, are truly blessed with good soil (after amending, of course), more sun than we would like, and reasonably good drainage. Next month I'll tell you about some other areas for rose growing. We don't realize how lucky we are!
A Future GVRS Guest-Speaker? Mary Mastin is a fan of the Rosarian writer Dr. Leda, AKA Elizabeth Churchill, who writes for the online rose column Dr. Leda's Rose Journal at www.regannursery.com/news. She wrote her first ever fan letter to Dr. Leda--the following is an excerpt from Mary's mash note, and Dr. Leda's gracious reply: Dear Dr. Leda; Hi, Mary--
FUN IN THE SUN--WITH FOOD! by Roberta Forbes It is a rite of Spring! Come join in the fun at the second annual GVRS “Pruning Party” – Oops! I mean Train the Trainers Pruning Practice. (We had so much fun last year, I forgot it was Educational!) Q: What am I talking about? As most of you know, each year GVRS provides a free rose pruning demonstration at the Botanical Gardens which is open to the general public. Each year GVRS recruits from amongst its members, new and old, for volunteers to show good pruning practices to this eager public. Last year, new elements entered the scene. One new member bravely spoke up to admit she knew how to prune well enough to do her own roses, but she wished she had a way to get some additional training herself before she would feel competent to teach someone else. This worked well, as another member with physical limitations had volunteered her rose garden as practice ground. What began as an educational practice session evolved into a potluck/fiesta!! This year we expect to have the same features at this event as last year, only bigger and better!! Albert LaSalle will present his demonstration on how to properly clean, sharpen and care for your pruning shears. We may also have a sample kit of everything you need to practice what Albert preaches! (GVRS will be selling these kits for a reasonable price at future events.) Veteran pruners will be on hand to mentor the less experienced. The training ground has about 40+ roses to practice on, so don’t be shy. Just bring your own sharpened pruning shears and gloves; everything else is provided. We'll brunch in the morning, picnic in the afternoon, plenty of drinks and snacks, friends and fun, and a few surprises. It all takes place on Saturday, April 3rd, 2004 at Roberta’s home, located at 3624 N. 15th St. Beginning at 10:00 am and ending when the last person leaves. Last year people were coming and going until around 4:00 PM. We hope to see you there. Like I said, “It is a rite of Spring!”
PRUNING BASICS: WHEN TO PRUNE? by Mary Mastin "When the forsythia are dressed in golden posies, In Grand Junction, this translates to about April 15, depending on your location in the valley or microclimate. It is best to avoid the temptation of pruning when we get the first flush of nice weather. Pruning will stimulate new growth on the bush. These tender sprouts will die back if a late freeze occurs after the prune. You won't loose the bush, but it is a stress to the plant and you will need to re-prune. WHICH TYPE OF ROSES GETS PRUNED IN THE SPRING? Heavy pruning tends to stimulate fewer but larger flowers. Lightly pruned roses usually have thicker, denser foliage and a larger number of smaller flowers on shorter stems. Roses growing on their own roots do not need any pruning for the first two to three years. Climbing roses should not be pruned for the first three to four years. WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED? WHAT DO I WEAR TO PRUNE ROSES? WHAT IS THE CORRECT CUT? WHICH CANES DO I REMOVE? "HELP, PLEASE SAVE MY ROSE! I JUST CUT STRAIGHT ACROSS ALL THE CANES 12
INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND!" GVRS members will have several opportunities to practice their pruning skills in the next month, with public prunings at Lincoln Park and at the Botanical Gardens, and a private practice session at the home of a member. After some hands-on training, you'll look forward to practicing your art in your own garden.
Odd rose factoid: According to
cable channel Join the American Rose Society!!
Companion Planting . . . GVRS version1.1 by Judith Curtis-Mardon [Editor's note: Last month, Robyn Collard from the local chapter of the Herb Society launched GVRS's search for information on Companion Planting For and With Roses. The following article includes information from Robyn's report and additional information from rosarians Wanda Smith-Valencia and Mary Mastin] Ever heard the term "monoculture"? It means the cultivation and growth of a single crop, and tomatoes, corn, and roses are often planted as monocultures in home gardens. Monocultures are easier to care for because everything is in one place, and problems can be dealt with all at once. However, monocultures have some problems, which include denuding the soil of nutrients, and providing an opportunity for pests or diseases to attack an entire crop all at once. The tradition of planting roses in masses, away from other plants and shrubs, is one of monocultures. Roses are often grouped by type, or color, in stunning displays, and gardeners usually treat their roses on a separate schedule from the rest of their yards. Hybrid Teas, the traditional one-stem, one-bloom roses, are frequently planted as monocultures. Companion planting is the antithesis of monocultures, and it honors both ancient techniques of growing, and the current interest in integrated garden management. Native American peoples used the Three Sisters method of planting, which grouped beans, corn, and squash for their benefits to each other--the squash vines protected the corn from invaders, the corn stalks acted as stakes for the beans to climb, and the beans helped the corn by fixing nitrogen in the soil. In a healthy garden, the benefits of diversity can't be understated. In a well balanced garden, plants, birds and insects work together to keep soils and plants healthy and productive. Well-balanced doesn't mean that you simply turn your garden over to nature and never intervene--bindweed and kudzu would rule the world under that plan. A well balanced garden is one that serves both the gardener and the plants--bean crops may be good for the soil, but if you don't like beans, who cares? Companion plantings can do many things in the garden, such as lending a hand to other plants, opposing weeds, using nutrients wisely, protecting against disease, repelling and trapping pests, and attracting beneficial insects and birds. Companion planting is a managed technique, and not a back-to-nature view of gardening. There is no altruism in nature. It's an "every plant/bug/bird for itself" world out in the garden, and any good that one does another is coincidental. It's up to the gardener to figure out a workable balance. We know that aphids are a common problem for roses here in the Grand Valley. Lots of us have bought lady bugs as "natural" combatants for those pests. It makes sense to import "beneficials" to eliminate our aphid infestations, but if we offer our roses to 1500 lady bugs, they're going to run out of food pretty fast and fly away. If we want to keep beneficials around, we have to offer them more than just a couple of quick meals--we have to offer them a banquet they never want or need to leave. Many rose pests are controlled by natural enemies already in the environment. These beneficial organisms can be encouraged to stay in your garden by providing a good habitat for them. Growing small-flowered nectar plants, such as sweet alyssum, baby's breath, asters, fennel, marigolds, and yarrows around the roses provides alternative food sources for beneficial insects. Much of the current information about companion planting is anecdotal--something works for one person, and they tell another person their "secret" for success. We've heard, recently, that the Grand Valley has been invaded by the dreaded Japanese Beetle. Suddenly, anecdotal reports about the ability of Four-O-Clocks to kill Japanese Beetles become really important. On the other hand, Four-O-Clocks are poisonous and can spread like crazy. What to do? Evidence to support the value of planting garlic and onions (in fact, the entire edible allium family) through out your garden is much easier to find -- actual studies have been done. The allium group has long demonstrated an ability to repel a number of pests, and many gardeners routinely interplant their gardens with these fabulous bulbs, which provide aesthetic value, food value and protection. This is probably the easiest way to begin companion planting--plant some cloves/bulbs/buds and stand back! The real value of companion planting is that, when well done, it cuts down on the necessity of using scorched-earth techniques for solving garden problems. The use of fewer (but not all) herbicides and fertilizers can reduce the negative impact of your garden patch on the greater fabric of planet life, and even improve the environment. A well balanced garden needs less intervention and makes the best possible use of the resources available to the gardener and to the earth upon which the garden is grown. Anything we can do, as gardeners, to reduce chemical runoff, reduce pests, and produce bounteous roses is good for the whole planet. GVRS is just beginning its study of companion planting for and with roses, and will continue to share what we learn. The following information is courtesy of Wanda Smith-Valencia, a long time local companion grower of prize winning roses. She reports: Just last week, Rodale books sent out a flyer about companion gardening to advertise Carrots Love Tomatoes, and Roses Love Garlic. On the cover: "Bye-bye Black Spot When You Plant Garlic With Your Roses." Inside the flyer: "In Bulgaria, where essential oils of roses are produced for perfumes, it is common practice to plant garlic in with the roses, because garlic causes roses to produce a stronger perfume in larger quantities!" Additionally: Plant garlic near roses to repel aphids. Garlic accumulates
sulfur, a naturally occurring fungicide which helps in the garden with disease
prevention. Garlic is a systemic, and is taken up into plants through their
pores; when used as a soil drench is also taken up by the roots.
The Good, the Bad, and the Shovel-Pruned, 2004! by Janet Coleman Here we are with another Spring breaking, our little fingers twitching on the holsters of our Felcos. Yes, it's almost time to prune once again. And for me, its time to sit back, look over my rose beds, reflect, and make some decisions. Which of the roses were good, which were bad, and which get the ultimate haircut--the Shovel-pruning!! The "Good" this year comes not just recommended by me--they also won the top two honors in the shrub category in the ARS review. They are Knock Out and Flower Girl. I have had both of these shrubs in my garden for the past 3 years. Knock Out is a red blend single rose that rates an 8.6 on the ARS scale of 0-10. It was hybridized in 2000 and, true to its name has been a knock out in my garden. For me it has been winter hardy, disease resistant, and absolutely gorgeous. I let this rose get large and slightly overgrown, for an "English garden" look. Of Knock Out, the ARS review said: "Healthy, vigorous plant that is covered with bright cherry red blooms all year. A dense low maintenance shrub for the landscape." Flower Girl is another shrub rose. It is rated number two behind Knock Out on the ARS Rose of the Year list. I have this rose planted next to my Knock Out, and the two together are sensational. Flower Girl grows its blooms in clusters, and each cluster can have up to 50-60 flowers. If a cluster gets large enough, it looks like a bouquet in itself, just like a flower girl at a wedding would carry--hence its name. Flower Girl won best of its category for me at the Rose Show last year. The soft, pale-pink centered rose draws it admirers from across the yard as easily as it does butterflies and bees. The ARS review stated "Big sprays of small, pretty blooms come consistently. Stems can bend under the weight of the sprays--give it room. This rose rates an 8.2. Now that I have raved about my good, I'm afraid I must name the "Bad"
rose I'm putting on probation this year. This will cause some teeth gnashing
amongst my fellow rosarians--I know you love this rose. But, I'm afraid my
Zephirine Drouhin is courting removal. I love its fragrance and its first flush
of gorgeous bloom. I has an OK repeat, especially if I tend to it, deadheading
and fertilizing regularly--tasks made easier because this rose is thornless.
What then, you ask, causes this lovely old garden rose to go on probation? A
rare disease for this area, but one the Zephirine Drouhin is very susceptible
to--downy mildew. To address this problem, I am going to follow Alex and Wanda's
program of regular spraying of ultrafine dormant oil spray. If this deals with
the problem, the Zephirine Drouhin removed from probation. If not, then next
year they may be in the next category, the . . . Top of page This page last modified: September 06, 2004
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