A Nose for Roses

The Beauty of a Well-Pruned Rose

2012-02-13T14:32:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I visited a friend who resides in a lovely apartment community in Southern California. While walking around the grounds, I commented about the beautiful roses. She said, "But they are not in bloom - the gardeners just pruned them." I replied. "I can tell they will be beautiful because they are obviously so well cared for."

All of the approximately fifty bushes were test-book perfect in terms of their pruning: urn-shaped form, crossing and unhealthy canes cut off, dead leaves removed and the surrounding soil clean. (See illustration).

Most of the roses appeared to be hybrid teas, although it can be hard to tell the difference between hybrid teas, grandifloras and some floribundas when they are cut back.

Nurseries, rose societies, and Master Gardeners hold many pruning demonstrations around this time of the year. Local parks and gardens will often give a lesson in exchange for a few hours of work. Nothing beats hands-on experience.

Colder climes may have another month or even two before pruning begins. If you are unsure about when to prune in your area, check with your local rose society or nursery for advice.

In many parts of the country this has been a warmer than usual winter, so roses and rosarians may be a little confused. One of my friends in the Reno, Nevada area said it had been so warm there in December that her roses had started to re-bloom. Very unusual for an area more known for its nearby ski resorts than its winter gardens.

I admit that pruning back a rose bush, especially for the novice, may result in a little trepidation. It gets easier! The important thing to remember is don't be afraid of pruning your roses. They will grow back even more beautiful than before.

Enjoy your roses!

Warmest regards,
Harriet Ottaviano
Free Rose Care Guides

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

A Day at the Rose Show

2011-11-13T15:46:00.001-08:00

It was 7:30 a.m.and I had just arrived at Roger's Gardens to assist with placement of entries in the Orange County (CA) Rose Society fall show, "The Bounty of Roses". Many of the exhibitors had arrived two hours earlier and were still working diligently in the cold, foggy parking lot to ready their roses for the big show.

Working in placement at a rose show is a good way to learn about a wide variety of roses. There are many different competitive categories ranging from hybrid teas and grandifloras to old garden roses. If you grow it in your garden, there is most likely a section where you can exhibit it. For those of you with an artistic touch, there are several classes just for arrangements.

Of course it isn't quite as simple as showing up that morning with a few blooms clipped from your floribunda. There are certain rules to follow - even the entry tag has to be filled out in a specific way - but rosarians are eager to help newcomers get started in exhibiting. And there is a novice category so you don't have to compete against past trophy winners your first time.

While hybrid teas are still the predominant variety at most rose shows, more and more exhibitors are showing minis. The Portland (OR) Rose Society, among others, has a rose show each year just for minis, in addition to its traditional spring and fall shows.

By 10 a.m. the sun had started to burn through the fog, the placement was done, and the judges had arrived to start evaluating the large nunber of entries. For me, this meant a new job as a "runner" who assists the clerks and judges by carrying the best of each class into a separate area for final judging and certificate presentation.

By 1:30 p.m. the judging was complete, Queens, Kings, and Courts of Honor had been announced, and the show tent was being opened for public viewing. It had been a fast paced few hours and all of us were ready to enjoy the impressive array of roses at our leisure.

Consider bringing your best roses to a show in your area. Contact your local rose society for special classes they may have to help you prepare. Don't be shy; even the most experienced exhibitor was a novice at one time!

Enjoy your roses!

Warmest regards,

Harriet Ottaviano
Rosecaretips.com

Your Roses Aren't Finished Yet!

2011-08-23T11:28:00.001-07:00

On my walks around the neighborhood, I notice that some people seem to have given up on their roses. Whether it is because of back-to-school shopping, vacations, or the hot weather, many rose bushes are looking droopy and neglected.

In most areas of the country, there is still plenty of growing time left for one more flush of bloom on your rose bushes. If you live in more temperate areas you could even have roses blooming into November!

All you have to do is remember to deadhead your roses. Keep removing dead blossoms from your bushes and they will continue to bloom until the weather gets too cold or wet for them to thrive.

The majority of modern roses are repeat bloomers meaning they will bloom continually during the growing season. But they won't bloom if they aren't deadheaded!

The goal of most living organisms is to reproduce. When a bloom is allowed to stay on the stem long enough for it to go to seed (produce hips) the rose bush says, "My job here is done." The bush has accomplished its goal of producing seed and has no more need for blooms.

You need to get rid of the dying blooms so that the bush will start over producing buds.

More work for the rose bush, but more beautiful roses for us!

Enjoy your roses!

Warmest regards,
Harriet

Will we love them in September as we do in May?

2011-07-14T17:27:00.001-07:00

Recently there has been some controversy regarding the development of a lilac bush that blooms, not only in spring, but also in mid and late summer. Those of you lucky enough to live where lilacs are in abundance know that they typically grace us with their fragrant blooms only once during the growing season. For many, they are synonymous with spring.

A few garden writers are coming out in opposition to this new "perpetual blooming" lilac. Some feel it puts gardening into the same culture as texting and social media by appealing to our "I want it all and I want it now!" natures.

Others are welcoming the longer-lived boomerang lilac and, judging from the advance sales, it is here to stay. It would be hard to argue with an August bride who is excited about the possibility of a fresh lilac bouquet!

Having grown up with lilacs, I can't imagine anything lovelier than having them all summer. I was always a little sad when the bushes faded before Memorial Day.

I wonder if there was the same discussion when the hybridization of roses led to more and more repeat bloomers? Most rosarians now have very few once blooming roses. I have one - a Mme. Cecile Brunner climber (see photo) spectacular for several weeks early in the growing season, then gone.

Is it wonderful while it is in bloom? Yes. Would I mind if it put out masses of blossoms until the weather turns cold? Not at all!

I don't feel that perpetual blooming roses cheapen the gardening experience. Poinsettias in the summer? I'll have to think about that....

Enjoy your roses!

Warmest regards,

Harriet Ottaviano
Rosecaretips.com -- How to prune your rose bushes

How to Deadhead Roses Video 10,000 and More Free Stuff

2011-06-29T14:41:00.000-07:00

My rose care minute video on how to deadhead roses reached 10,000 views today! Big thanks to everyone who watched the video. You can see that video and more on the Rosecaretips You Tube page.

Also, the eBook Pruning Your Roses: The Kindest Cut of All is now free and has a Creative Commons by-nc-sa license which means you're free to share, remix, and distribute the eBook as long as it remains non-commercial, retains the same license, and you attribute it to us.

eBook on rose disease treatment is now free

2011-06-16T19:28:00.000-07:00

"Don't Let Your Roses Bug You!" is now free in PDF format.

It has a open license with Creative Commons designated as by-nc-sa. This means you're permitted to remix, share, and redistribute the eBook as long as it's non-commercial with the same license and you attribute it to us with a web link. You can read more about the Creative Commons license by following the link below.

"Don't Let Your Roses Bug You! The path to healthier roses through indentification and control of pests and diseases" by Rosecaretips.com is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

There is more to come with our other eBooks. Stay tuned!

Enjoy your roses!

New Rose Care Minute Videos

2011-06-09T10:32:00.000-07:00

Ten dollar rose bush in a two dollar hole

2011-05-16T10:19:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back a post on our Enjoy Your Roses Facebook page elicited a lot of lively discussion about the merits of buying rosebushes at discounted prices. Some felt it was too much of a risk, others felt that it is not the price you pay, but the care you give.

Of course there are good arguments on both sides. Discounted rose bushes that have been sitting neglected outside a big box store for weeks, may never make it through the shock of being transplanted. But not all discounted roses have been mistreated – and not all full price nursery roses have been given consistently good care.

If you see a rose you want and the price is right, why not take the chance? As I have said many times before, roses are remarkably resilient. Once in your garden, with some TLC, most roses have a good shot at becoming beautiful.

It is more the care you give rather than the price you pay.

One of the most common quotes from rosarians is “Don’t put a $10 bush in a $2 hole.” I think that saying needs to be updated to “Don’t put a $20 bush in a $4 hole”, but the same logic applies.

No matter what you pay for a rose bush – discounted or full price – if you don’t have good soil in the hole, you will wait a long time for nice blooms. Most yards have less than optimum soil. Developers often remove topsoil while building and replace it with soil that is either too rocky, too sandy, or too alkaline.

In my area, soil is typically heavy clay – as one friend said, “You could make ashtrays out of it!” Clay soil holds too much moisture and doesn’t give the roots room to breathe. Very sandy soil lets the moisture out too quickly and the roots dry out.

Amending your soil with organic matter i.e. compost, humic acid, mulch, will give any rose, inexpensive or premium, a good start in your garden. Ask your local nursery about good amendments for the soil in your area. Work it into the soil as you dig the hole and you are on your way to having better growing conditions for your roses.

Enjoy your roses!

Warmest regards,

Harriet Ottaviano
Rosecaretips.com

Roses at the Getty Villa

2011-05-10T10:15:00.000-07:00

A recent sunny Saturday, I headed up Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, CA with a friend and fellow museum lover. No we didn’t have a convertible and we weren’t listening to the Beach Boys, but we were eager to visit the famous Getty Villa. The beautiful setting, atop the Malibu hills with a view of the Pacific Ocean, is a testament to the vision (and vast wealth) of oilman J. Paul Getty.

J. Paul Getty wanted to share his extensive collection of antiquities with the public. The Villa, built to the plans of an Italian estate buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, is a perfect setting for the ancient sculptures, coins, glassware, and other art pieces accumulated by the Getty Museum.

What may surprise first time visitors are the extensive gardens incorporated into the plan of the Villa. My friend and I joined a docent-led garden tour to find out more about how the estate strives to be historically detailed in its use of plantings.

The large herb garden is a focal point of the grounds. All of the herbs grown here are ones that would have been found in a typical Mediterranean home around 79 AD, the year Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying Pompeii and Herculaneum. Herbs were important, not only for cooking, but for medicinal and ceremonial purposes.

Likewise, roses in the 1st Century AD were not used just for their beauty or flavoring. Hygiene in that era not being what it is today, fragrant roses served as natural deodorants and air fresheners.

The only rose found at the Getty Villa, according to our guide, is the rose damascena or Damask rose (see photo). This is the oldest rose cultivar currently available that they were able to plant in their gardens.

The Damask rose dates back to ancient times. History holds that it was introduced to Europeans by the Crusaders. Egyptians, Greeks, Persians, and Romans all grew this highly fragrant, hardy, thorny rose. It is likely that Damasks originated from a natural hybrid between the Gallica rose and wild rose species. Most varieties only bloom once a year, a typical quality of most old roses.

Interstate 10, which runs all the way across the U.S., stops at the Pacific Ocean, just five miles south of the Getty Villa. Are you ready for a road trip? Convertible and Beach Boys are optional – stopping to smell the roses is a must!

Enjoy your roses!

Warmest regards,

Harriet Ottaviano

P.S. -- As we make our way out of rose pruning season and into blooming season you'll want to watch this one minute video on how to deadhead roses.

Boasters Beware!

2011-04-18T11:11:00.000-07:00

Gardening, for all of its gratifying moments, is a profoundly humbling endeavor and rose disease can quickly test your patience. Here are some things you can do about it.

Not even 24 hours after I had modestly remarked to a friend that my roses were looking very healthy, I was brought back to reality by a big dose of Mother Nature.

Black spot on the Paradise ™ hybrid tea, rust on the mini Rainbow’s End ™, and downy mildew on the Cecile Brunner climber. Granted, none of these problems were threatening to ravage my garden, but they definitely let the air out of my rosy balloon.

A good location can help you prevent rose fungus

It is probably no coincidence that all of these roses are in the same part of the garden. Location has a big effect on the health of your roses. Poor air circulation, plant debris, and water splash can all contribute to the spread of fungal disease.

Across my yard, the Enchanted Evening ™ (see photo) floribunda and ever-tough Brilliant Pink ™ and Burgundy ™ Iceberg shrubs are showing no signs of any disease. Those roses get a lot more air circulation.

Natural treatment of rose diseases

There are many chemical, organic, and home remedies for fungal diseases. Prevention works much better than damage control. Many gardeners are willing to live with less than perfect roses – only you can determine your level of tolerance.

Remove the afflicted leaves – they won’t magically “get better” and just serve as a jumping off spot for more fungal spores that will eventually make their way to the healthy leaves. Pick up all of the clippings so the spores won’t reenter the soil around your roses.

Keep your cool

Be patient - often the arrival of hotter days will reduce the growing conditions in which black spot and the like thrive. And keep in mind that disease in the rose garden is a common occurrence. While cosmetically unappealing, these diseases will seldom kill your roses.

You can learn a lot from your roses – like humility.

Enjoy your roses!

Warmest regards,

Harriet Ottaviano
Rosecaretips.com -- More on rose disease treatment and prevention.

When is a “rose” not a rose?

2011-03-30T10:38:00.000-07:00

Botany can be confusing, even to those of us who have studied it for years. Common names of plants are often misleading.

Botany and horticulture students are never happy about learning the scientific or Latin names for plants, but these distinctions are often the only way to keep track of what is what in the plant kingdom.

There are several instances of plants having the name “rose” in their common names, when they are not actually roses at all.

The attractive multi-flowered shrub, rock rose (see photo) is from the family Cistaceae, but you won’t find too many people, even botanists, who call it that.

To make things even more confusing, the particular rock rose in this photo has the common name of “Orchid” Rock Rose. Obviously it is neither an orchid nor a rose!

Another common name, Rose of Sharon, is applied to several totally unrelated flowering plants including hibiscus and hypericum.

What we call a rose is from the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species of roses in this family, most of which we will never see in a garden. The vast majority of our garden roses are hybrids of one type or another.

Don’t let all this technical jargon discourage you. I’ve been studying plants since my college days, but I certainly wouldn’t want to be tested on my knowledge of the various classification methods in the plant kingdom.

In another blog we’ll talk about the different types of garden roses. Knowing the difference between hybrid teas, floribundas, and minifloras is useful information to take to your local nursery when you are rose shopping.

In gardens, as in music and art, it is perfectly fine to say, “I may not know what it is, but I know what I like!”

Enjoy your roses!

Warmest regards,

Harriet Ottaviano
Rosecaretips.com -- How to Prune Your Roses

When in doubt, mulch!

2011-03-16T11:00:00.000-07:00

A friend came to me for advice about controlling weeds in her rose garden. Herbicides were out of the question because of her inquisitive pets.

I advised her to remove as many weeds as possible by hand, and then apply several inches of organic mulch, such as shredded bark, which is easy to find in nurseries or home improvement stores.

This application would not only discourage the reappearance of weeds, but would enrich the soil as the mulch broke down.

A good mulching program is essential to your gardening

Mulch can discourage the spread of fungal diseases such as black spot and powdery mildew. It also helps to keep your soil at a consistent temperature and holds in moisture.

The Rose Garden at the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, CA (see photo) prides itself on being a pesticide and herbicide free garden. The curator, Clair Martin, credits the use of good mulch and compost for his success in growing roses organically for over twenty years.

Organic mulches should be applied early in the growing season, before weeds have a chance to take hold in your garden. Aim for around the time you remove winter protection or when pruning takes place. In warm climates, keep mulch on the ground year-round.

There are many types of organic mulches

Bark is very common, easily attainable, and attractive. It needs to be reapplied every two or three months because it will break down over time. Pine barks tend to be acidic. Roses like slightly acidic soil, but they can get too much of a good thing.

Growing up on a farm, we usually depended on leaf mold (slightly decomposed leaves) as both winter protection and mulch. The leaves blew over our flowerbeds in the fall and stayed there until spring when we raked them off so the daffodils could peek through.

In Oregon, some nurseries mulch with hazelnut shells which are easy to get from local growers. Shells take longer to break down, but they add a distinctive touch to the garden. My husband and I love pistachios and the shells all go around our plants!

What else can be used as mulch?

There are a number of inorganic substances that you can use as mulch, such as gravel, sand, or plastic. These are generally hard to work around and do not enrich the soil the way an organic mulch does, but they work well in some circumstances.

Landscape cloth is often used in big landscaping jobs. It is water permeable and does an excellent job of weed suppression. It is easiest to apply when you are first putting in a bed, not after bushes are well established.

Don’t forget to mulch – your roses will love you for it!

Warmest regards,

Harriet Ottaviano

P.S. -- For those of you in North America, it's that time of year! Get the tips you need now from my rose pruning guide!

“She’ll see this rose and think of me.”

2011-03-03T10:21:00.000-08:00

Tastes, scents, sounds, colors, textures… these are the ways we remember the happy times in our lives.

“That feels just like my father’s wool jacket.”

“Apple pie always smells like grandma’s kitchen.”

“Whenever I hear bluegrass music, it reminds me of home.”

The sights and scents of our gardens can also remind you of happy times. A speaker at a Great Rosarians of the World (GROW) conference said that when he plants a rose, he does it both for himself and for his granddaughter. He said, “Long after I am gone, she’ll see this rose and think of me.”

My niece, Mary, loved to garden and was also an excellent photographer. I am glad that she shared many of her pictures with me. One of her roses was the beautiful Rio Samba ™, hybrid tea (see photo).

The first summer after moving to Tennessee from Pennsylvania, she sent me progressive pictures of her Rio Samba - from tight buds to just opening blooms to fully opened blossoms.

She was delighted with the longer growing season in Tennessee and the many lovely gardens in the area. One of the last times I talked to her was when she was walking through the Biltmore Estate Gardens in nearby North Carolina.

Those we love are never with us as long as we wish them to be. Some, like Mary, leave us much too soon. But as long as you can remember them by the pies they baked, the songs they played, or the roses they loved they are never far away.

Enjoy your roses... and think of someone you love.

Warmest regards,

Harriet Ottaviano

Reader Question: Agapanthus?

2011-02-11T11:00:00.000-08:00

This comes from Alan in Australia...

Hi Harriet, I don't know if you have these plants (agapanthus) where you are, or if you are familiar with them at all but I have both white and blue in my garden. Over here, of course, it is late Summer and they have just about finished flowering for the year.

All the white ones now have masses of seed pods, or at least they did have, until I took them all off. I have put them in a container to dry out. Is it possible to plant these, and if so when, and be able to grow new plants from them? Could you advise me once again.

All the best, Alan

I have a number of agapanthus (Lily-of-the-Nile) plants in my yard. I cut the stalks back after their blooms have died off and they always grow well again the next year. I have never tried growing them from seed, but it can be done.

The seeds should be planted in the spring when the soil temperature is warming up, 55-59 F or 13-15 C. My sources say that seedlings may be slow to develop. The seedlings should be protected over their first winter and may take two or three years to flower. The flowers may not be true to the color of the original plant.

As a footnote, most books will tell you that agapanthus needs full sun. Mine grow in almost full shade and have been doing well for years! Just another reason why gardening is such an inexact science.

All the best,

Harriet Ottaviano
Rosecaretips.com -- How to Prune Your Roses

Now is the time!

2011-02-02T11:16:00.000-08:00

No, I’m not referring to the Big Game on Sunday. Pruning time is here!

Those of you in areas still reeling from winter storms, with more on the way, may think pruning time will never get here. It always does.

Pruning efforts have already started in milder climates. In colder regions, wait until danger of hard frost has passed. A good sign is the emergence of forsythia blossoms.

Gardeners have been called the world’s biggest optimists. We always expect our plants to spring forth, be healthy, bloom better than they have ever done before. But for some reason, pruning still strikes fear into many hearts.

If pruning is still a scary process for you, take heart. You will not kill your roses by pruning them! Just about the only thing that will kill roses is digging them out of the ground and throwing them on the trash heap. Even a totally neglected rose, such as those found in abandoned lots or old cemeteries, will still strive to bloom.

Yes, you could quit pruning your roses and you would probably still get some blossoms. But the plants won’t be as healthy and the blooms won’t be as big. Eventually the rose bush may quit producing or it may get so large that it looks out of place in your yard.

Your pruning efforts do not have to be perfect – even experts vary in their methods. Just get started and be patient. If you are a rose lover, you have the “patience” part already.

Ask a neighbor, read a book, attend a rose pruning seminar. Be bold. Now is the time!

Enjoy your roses!

Warmest regards,

Harriet Ottaviano
Rosecaretips.com -- Rose Pruning Guide

Looking back at my resolutions

2011-01-19T14:16:00.000-08:00

I went back to my Top Ten New Year’s Resolutions for Rose Lovers, written on January 2010, to see how many I had kept and how many I needed to work harder on in 2011.

10. Sharpen my shears, scrub out my pots and clean my tools in the winter instead of waiting until spring when I would rather be out in the garden.

I could have done a better job at this one. I sharpened my shears and cleaned my tools only when it became embarrassing not to do so. I scrubbed out my pots when it was time to put something in them. Not a good start.

9. Read at least one gardening book for pure enjoyment.

This is what I did instead of sharpening, scrubbing, and cleaning! I read gardening books the way some people read Stieg Larsson.

8. Support my local Rose Society.

I need to make a concentrated effort to attend more meetings. The support and knowledge gained from conferring with fellow rosarians is immeasurable. I did pay my dues on time, which any rose society treasurer will tell you is a very good resolution to keep.

7. Attend or assist with a rose show, arrangement demonstration, or pruning workshop.

In addition to helping with placement at a rose show, I also pitched in on fall pruning, workshops, and tours at our community garden. Too much fun! This resolution is one I’ll definitely keep in 2011.

6. Plant at least one rose variety that is new to my garden.

I added two Brilliant Pink Icebergs ™ and one Burgundy Iceberg ™ last year. The results have been so good that I plan to add more floribundas this spring.

5. Not over-water, over-feed, or over-spray.

I continually fine-tune a feeding and spraying schedule that will get the best results for my roses. Products that are environmentally friendly and easy to apply will always be at the top of my lists. I also had a new irrigation system installed that is decidedly more efficient than the old one.

4. Mulch, mulch, mulch!

Yes, yes, yes. When in doubt, mulch. Enough said.

3. Share my roses with my friends.

Yes, and my friends shared their roses with me. Rose lovers are thoughtful like that.

2. Not be intimidated by those with more experience, bigger gardens, or more trophies.

My greatest satisfaction comes, not from comparisons, but from helping others enjoy their roses.

1. Most importantly, this year I resolve to Enjoy My Roses!

I did, I do, and I will. I hope all of you resolve to do the same.

Warmest regards,

Harriet Ottaviano

P.S. -- If you live in North America rose pruning is just around the corner. Pruning is the key to healthy rose blooms. If you didn't have a chance last year to pick up our eBook "Pruning Your Roses: The Kindest Cut of All" you can still get it now.

Inside the Rose Parade

2011-01-03T10:43:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered what types of roses go onto the beautiful floats in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA on New Year’s Day?

Of the estimated one million roses (give or take several hundred thousand) that are carefully placed on the floats each year, most are varieties that are not available to the public.

So that the roses will be available in exactly the colors needed and at precisely the right time, commercial growers plan months ahead to get the roses blooming by December. They are usually grown hydroponically (without soil) and are carefully selected for characteristics that will travel well, stay fresh, and show well at a distance.

Roses are placed one stem at a time into vials of sterilized water and then positioned on the float within the last 48 hours before parade time. Seeds and crushed nutshells, which are often used for faces, can be placed on the floats several weeks ahead of time.

I have had the privilege of working on Tournament of Roses Parade floats; it is an experience I highly recommend. You do not need to be a professional to work on the floats; many, many volunteers are needed each year to make the parade a success.

Once when I was working on a float with my daughter’s Girl Scout troop, I spent two hours in a chilly warehouse with my hands in cold water placing hundreds of roses into their vials. When I finally got to work directly on a float, I spent another hour gluing silver leaf into place on the 30-foot frame of a loving cup only to be told that my work was upside down!

Little did I know at the time that silver leaf has a grain and my tiny patch would not match the rest of the float unless I reglued it. Which I did – and when I saw “my float” come down the parade route with the coveted “Princess Award” for best use of roses, I was very proud!

Float builders have become very creative in meeting the rules that dictate that every inch of the float that is showing is covered with plant material. While onion seed, seaweed, and even cauliflowers are used to create certain effects, roses are still the favorite flower used in float designs.

Aren’t we lucky to start off the New Year with our favorite flower on display to millions of viewers around the world?

Enjoy your roses and happy new year!

Warmest regards,

Harriet Ottaviano
Rosecaretips.com

P.S. -- If you live in California it's about time to prune your roses.

A Rose Lover’s Top Ten Gift List

2010-12-09T10:19:00.000-08:00

Still wondering what to get for the rose lover on your list? Maybe you want to “gift yourself” so Santa doesn’t have to guess.

Here are some things that should be on every rosarian’s wish list.

10. Stoneware plant markers

For those of you who think you'll always remember what rose you planted over in the corner near the garage, but two years later – all pink roses seem to look alike! These useful items also come in metal and plastic varieties.

9. Heavy duty scrub brushes

When you are ready to scrub out those old pots you picked up at a garage sale, you’ll be glad to have them. If you are worried that this gift is not glamorous enough, include some nice gardening gloves.

8. Bud vases

When you don’t have quite enough blooms for a big arrangement, a variety of bud vases can make your home look rosy with just a few small cuttings. Plus they fit in the powder room a lot easier than a big vase.

7. Colorful watering can

I have a big, gray, utilitarian can for dispensing soluble rose foods and routine watering, but there is something about a brightly colored can that brightens up your whole yard. These can add to your backyard décor or serve as a front porch vase.

6. Garden gnome

While we are on the subject of backyard décor, you can’t go wrong with a garden gnome! Or maybe you can….best to know your recipient well or you may end up taking the gnome home. Personally, I think they are adorable!

5. Gift card to a garden store or rose nursery

Maybe you think this is the easy way out, but trust me – your gardening friends will be delighted to receive a gift card. They can order rose bushes for spring planting or invest in a new pair of pruning shears.

4. Gift membership in your local rose society or the American Rose Society

Join up with fellow rose lovers to learn more about your favorite flower.

3. Gardening apron

Along with my ergonomic pruning shears, this is my favorite gardening accessory. Holds keys, camera, cell phone, hankie – and your shears.

2. A good book for a cold winter’s night

"A Rose by Any Name" by Douglas Brenner and Stephen Scanniello is one of my favorites. Not a how-to book, but a fascinating read that delves into the history behind the names of roses.

1. A rose care and pruning eBook from rosecaretips.com

Perfect for those who say “I don’t have room for one more book in my house!”. These stay on your computer, tablet computer, or an e-reader like the Nook. E-books don’t gather dust and are always there when you need them.

Happy Holidays and Enjoy Your Roses!

Warmest regards,

Harriet Ottaviano
Rosecaretips.com

Small yard? No problem!

2010-11-18T15:46:00.000-08:00

I recently visited a friend who lives in a small apartment complex.

Some of the residents there have developed a community garden with tomatoes, squash, onions, eggplant, herbs, roses and other ornamental plants and vegetables. The dimensions of this garden are approximately 10’ x 20’.

The variety of vegetables and flowers would be remarkable in a space twice as big. Oh, and did I mention there is room to walk through the garden for easy care and viewing?

Obviously a lot of thought was given to what to plant before any work took place. The space was well chosen for optimum light and access to irrigation.

The roses are all hybrid teas, which tend to grow upright and are well suited to tight spaces. There are some shrub roses in common spaces around the complex, but they would be too bushy to do well in the community garden.

If space is at a premium where you live, you can still enjoy the satisfaction of growing your own roses. With careful pruning, hybrid teas and grandifloras can be controlled for a small space.

Many types of roses do well in containers on a patio or deck. Miniature roses can be grown either in the ground or in containers. Shrub, landscape, and floribundas may grow too large to be confined in a container, but with careful pruning you can enjoy them in a small yard.

Don’t let lack of space keep you from enjoying your roses!

Warmest regards,

Harriet Ottaviano
Rosecaretips.com -- How to Prune Your Rose Bushes

“Bee” careful while deadheading your roses!

2010-11-11T11:21:00.000-08:00

We all know that bees are beneficial insects. Attracting them to your garden is a good thing.

But trying to work around them while they are having so much fun on your roses can get a little tricky. I work around bees all the time while I am deadheading, pruning, and otherwise caring for my roses.

But it has been years since I have been stung. If someone asks I say it is because the bees have no reason to mess with me when they have all those fragrant roses around. And there is some truth to that. Given a choice, most bees would rather do what comes naturally instead of stinging sweaty humans.

There are some things you can do to reduce your chances of being stung while working with your roses.

Work early in the day before the bees become active.

Always wear gloves and long sleeves. A collared shirt is a good idea, too.

Don a wide brim hat and eye protection to keep bees away from your face.

If the bees seem particularly aggressive, give them a wide berth and come back to that bush another day.

Check with your doctor about carrying an epinephrine auto-injector “EpiPen” if you know you are allergic to bee stings.

Planting some companion plants in your garden that attract bees may help to lure them away from your roses. Bees love my herb garden, especially the basil, so I seldom have to deal with them on my roses. Cosmos and coneflowers are just two of many flowers that will attract pollinating insects.

Enjoy your roses, but "bee" careful!

Warmest regards,

Harriet Ottaviano
Rosecaretips.com - Rose Disease Treatment and Pest Control

Why I Love Rose Shows

2010-11-05T14:05:00.000-07:00

How to Meet Rose Enthusiasts in Your Area

I used to avoid going to rose shows because I thought the beautiful blooms on display would make me feel inferior about my own efforts to grow roses.

Then someone said to me, “Would you quit jogging just because you’ll never win the Boston Marathon?” Good point! I may never sing at The Metropolitan Opera, but I can still be a decent alto in the church choir. And I can enjoy skiing even if I’ll never be in the Winter Olympics.

I admire those who have the determination and skill to bring a bloom to perfection at just the right moment to win the top prize. But there is much more to these competitions than trying to bring home an award.

There is the opportunity to meet those with like interests and the chance to see some new varieties of roses. If you are interested in entering a rose show, don’t be afraid! Your local rose society has members who would love to guide you through your first efforts.

Rosarians are very willing to share their love of roses with newcomers. And you will find so many different categories for entries, including special ones for novices, that you might well end up bringing home a prize.

A good way to see for yourself is to volunteer behind the scenes at a local rose show. You may get hooked and want to enter next time. Or you may be content to be one of the support crew.

Any way you choose to do it -attending, helping, or entering - rose shows are great ways to share with others why you love roses. Enjoy your roses!

Warmest regards,

Harriet Ottaviano
Rosecaretips.com

Location, Location, Location: The best spot for your roses

2010-11-04T11:31:00.000-07:00

Real estate agents aren’t the only ones concerned about location. Rosarians should also be taking location into consideration when planting their roses.

Too much shade?

Sorry, roses probably aren’t going to work in that part of your yard. Some shrub roses and hearty rugosas can tolerate partial shade, but hybrid teas really like their minimum of six hours of sun per day.

Too much sun?

Yes it is possible for roses to get too much sun, especially in hot climates. If you live in a desert climate, afternoon sun can really bake your bushes. If possible plant your roses on the east side of your house; morning sun is much more gentle.

Poor drainage?

Most rose varieties like a lot of water, but they don’t like to sit in mud. If drainage issues just can’t be fixed in your yard, then you may want to consider planting your roses in containers. They’ll be high, dry, and happy!

Sloping hill?

Groundcover, landscape, and shrub roses will do well here. You can plant hybrid teas on a hill or in other awkward areas, but getting access to them for consistent deadheading and pruning may be difficult. It will also be harder to cut those beautiful bouquets for your vases.

Wall next to your neighbor’s house?

You may be tempted to plant a climbing rose near your dividing wall. Just keep in mind that many climbers, after the first couple of years, have a mind of their own.

Your neighbor may enjoy having your Cecile Brunner ™ cascading over his wall, but you might not – especially if you have to get past his Doberman to prune it back!

Whatever location you choose, enjoy your roses!

Warmest regards,

Harriet Ottaviano
Rosecaretips.com -- How to Care for Roses eBooks

Reader Question: Hibiscus

2010-10-29T09:15:00.000-07:00

Dear Harriet,

"I dug up 2 mature hibiscus plants from a friends garden about a week ago and brought them back here to replant them into my garden straight away.

I dug 2 holes big enough for the roots, mixed in some potting mix, put some liquid wetting agent into the holes, put the plants in, and then gave them both some seaweed fertilizer.

I have made sure that they have been watered every day. I dont know if it is still a little too soon but they look as if they are not going to survive. Did I do the right thing?"

Yours Concerned,
Alan

Hibiscus are hardy plants and yours will most likely rebound in time. Plants that are dug up and replanted often suffer from "transplant shock".

Occasionally it is fatal, but usually plants recover if weather and care are beneficial. Has your area suffered from any weather extremes recently?

Hot, dry, windy conditions are difficult for transplanted plants to overcome. Likewise freezing temperatures and soggy ground.

It is always a good idea to add an organic mulch such as bark around the base of your plants to help keep soil temperatures consistent and aid in moisture retention.

Regards,

Harriet Ottaviano
Rosecaretips.com - Tips on pruning your rose bushes and more!

How to Trim Rose Bushes: Cutting for Display

2010-10-19T11:42:00.000-07:00

Keeping your cut roses fresh

Sharing your beautiful roses with friends or having them proudly on display in your home is one of the best things about growing roses.

Don’t wait until your roses are dead to “deadhead”! Cut some off while they are still healthy and put them in a vase, either for yourself or a neighbor.

Some research has shown that roses last longer when cut late in the afternoon. The sugars that are manufactured by the leaves during the day will nourish the blooms.

Roses cut earlier in the morning have little sugars in the leaves to feed the blossoms.

Here are some other tips to make sure your cut roses stay beautiful as long as possible.

Take a bucket of lukewarm water out to the garden with you when you cut your roses. Cut each stem at an angle and place it immediately into the water.

Have your vases or other containers ready before you go out to your garden, so that you can transfer the cut roses as soon as possible.

Between uses, clean vases with a dilute bleach solution to kill bacteria that can block the stems and prevent them from taking up fresh water.

If you have floral preservative, add it to the water. These packets contain hydration agents and antibacterial treatments that will help your flowers stay fresh longer. Homemade preservatives include aspirin and diluted lemon-lime sodas (not diet).

Remove any leaves that will go below the water line in your vase. Leaves are a source of bacteria that will limit water uptake and cause unpleasant odors.

Display away from direct sunlight and away from appliances that radiate heat like televisions and computers.

Enjoy your roses – inside and out!

Warmest regards,

Harriet Ottaviano
Rosecaretips.com - How to prune rose bushes and more!