Great Plains Gardening

By Edith Koeller

March 19, 2004

Some retailers are already advertising their rose plants being in stock. CSU extension office has a fact sheet, #7.404 Selecting and planting roses, by A. William Nelson and Curtis E. Swift. This week I will highlight some of the information contained in this sheet.

"Roses are successfully grown in most communities on Colorado. Colorado roses exhibit some of the most vivid colors seen anywhere in the country."

"The American Rose Society lists 48 different classifications for roses, but roses in Colorado can generally be said to fall into one of the following types: hybrid tea, miniature, floribunda, grandiflora, climber, polyantha and shrub."

"The hybrid tea, originally a cross between a tea rose and a hybrid perpetual is the most popular garden rose. Miniatures are naturally dwarf roses and are rapidly gaining in popularity. The first floribunda was produced from a cross between a hybrid tea and a polyantha and usually has more, but smaller blooms than hybrid teas. The climbing hybrid teas and climbing grandifloras are not recommended for most areas of Colorado because most will bloom only on previous years growth. During severe winters, the previous year’s growth is damaged by cold temperatures. There are however, a number or repeat blooming large flowered climbers (LCL) that do well in Colorado weather. The term "shrub rose" is used loosely to cover roses not previously mentioned."

"The site selection of roses is important and a good choice is an area that gets full sun and good air circulation. In areas where there is a problem with winds, take some precaution against exposing the roses to the prevailing wind. A good second choice is a location that gets full sun during the early morning hours. Locate the plants so they receive a minimum of five to six hours of sunshine. When choosing a location, try to avoid a spot where the roses have to compete with tree or shrub roots for water and nutrients."

"Most experienced rose growers prefer the bare root dormant plant from a reputable nursery. Potted roses are a viable choice only when the nursery has used good culture in the potting and care of the plants. Make sure a packaged rose is purchased before the plant has had a chance to dry out and deteriorate on the shelf."

"If selecting bare-root roses, spring planting is preferred over fall. A good planting time is six to seven weeks before the last killing spring frost."

"If bare-root and packaged plants appear dry when they are received, put them in a container of water to soak overnight. Do not leave them in water for more than 24 hours."

"If planting in a previously prepared bed, dig the hole so it accommodates the root system, usually about 18 inches in diameter and 12 inches deep. The same is true for a new location but if the soil is compacted or needs improving, the planting hole may be dug as large as 36 inches in diameter and 18 inches deep. If the subsoil in the bottom of the planting hole or rose bed is heavy clay, it may be desirable to replace a portion of this subsoil with a good grade of peat moss or compost, thoroughly mixed with the good soil. (Equal in volume to 1/3 to ½ of the kept soil)"

"Prepare the plant by pruning any damaged or broken roots. Excessively long roots may be shortened, but leave 8 to 10 inches of healthy root it possible. When planting, the bud union should be at or slightly below ground level. Firm the soil; with your hands or let water from the hose settle the soil. It is important to water deeply at this time without puddling the soil. Since the plant was probably topped by machine, prune the canes. Make the pruning cuts at a 30 to 45 degree angle, ¼ inch above a bud eye, leaving about 6 to 8 inches of the cane."

"Next. cover the entire plant with loose, loamy moist soil. This will keep the canes from drying out while a root system in being established and will protect the plant from possible frost damage. This cover may be left on from two to seven weeks. Water from a garden hose may be the best way to remove this cover. Preventing the canes from drying out is probably the most important step to take when planting a bare-root rose in Colorado because of the dry climate."

"Potted roses can be planted during the growing season, anytime after the last killing frost. The planting hole is prepared much the same as the bare-root roses, with the depth determined by the height of the bud union from the bottom of the container. Carefully remove the plant from the container, placing it in the hole without disturbing the root ball. Make sure the bud union is at or slightly below ground level. Fill in around the root ball with soil. If the roots are pot bound, break up the root ball by using water pressure through a hose attached soil needle or piece of pipe attached to a garden hose."

The fact sheet also has a very long list of recommended varieties, many more than space here will allow, so I recommend checking with Extension if you are interested in these recommendations.

Until next time…