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ROSE CARE FOR JUNE
by Florence Taylor, Consulting Rosarian
by Florence Taylor, Consulting Rosarian
Being a “show me type of person”, I like to see where my water is going in the garden. I chose to water my roses by sprinklers and then I know that everything is working and the companion plants are happy too.
Although this is a very unusual year weather wise, the frequent rains we have been getting have been enough for the roses so I haven't turned on my sprinkler system. When I do, the timer will be set for 20 minutes twice a week; that has worked well for me in the past. The most important thing is to start your watering early in the morning so that the foliage is allowed to dry thoroughly before evening. Mine goes on at 6:00 a.m. and off by 8:00 a.m.
Water washing the underside of the leaves is important as it keeps your roses clean and healthy. Spider mites are also washed away. I read an article in a local paper a few years ago, Frankly Gardening by Kevin Sadlier, stating that Dr. Raabe, a plant pathologist from UC Berkeley, explained that by water washing, you wash the rust spores off the surface of leaves before they have a chance to germinate. I have had very little rust during the blooming season and only see it in the late fall.
Taking garden tours when you go to National Conventions is a great way to see how other people grow roses. The ARS convention in St. Louis was helpful to me. One of their top exhibitors grew his roses in long narrow beds and had a watering system for each with PVC pipe on top and down the middle of each bed, and sprinkler heads every 4 to 5 feet apart (see photo above).
John Goldsmith took pictures of it for me as I have the same narrow beds in the north side of my garden. I was able to show the pictures to my gardener and he installed it for me. It is working great and takes care of the roses and companion plants too. He also got the pipe in a dark gray color so it is hardly noticeable (see photo at left).
Many of us are seeing a lot of blackspot this year due to the very cool spring we are having. Keep leaves cleaned up around the roses and hopefully when the weather does warm up that will be the end of that problem. Keep up with deadheading—this keeps the plant productive and looking its best. Remove interior and crossing canes, keeping the center of the rose open for good air circulation.
People often ask me what my favorite rose is. My answer is always the same - ‘Iceberg’, but I must admit it has a close runner-up with ‘Julia Child’. Those two roses are amazing—clean, disease free, and loads of gorgeous blooms. What more can we ask for?
Photo of the St. Louis garden irrigation system by John Goldsmith. Photo of Florence's irrigation system by Joan Goff.
A YEAR OF ROSE CARE:
January
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Last Modified: 6/30/10