Everything’s Coming Up Roses

Have you been impressed by glorious photographs of roses, only to watch helplessly as your plants produced only a few sporadic blooms or were invaded by pests and diseases?

Don’t think it’s trick photography. It is possible to get picture-perfect flowers.

Rose experts Lillian Biesiadecki of Newport Beach, Justin Ekuan of Dana Point and Virginia Carlson of Fullerton share their top 10 secrets for growing great roses:

1) Passion. “You have to want to grow great roses,” said Biesiadecki, a consulting rosarian, American Rose Society judge and a member of the Orange County Rose Society. “If you love roses and rose gardening, it will show.”

2) Selection. “It’s foolish to struggle with roses that don’t grow well in your area,” said Ekuan, a rosarian and Orange County Rose Society member. “There are so many wonderful roses to choose from; there’s no reason not to grow something that is well adapted for your particular microclimate.”

Five miles can make a huge difference in the performance of a rose, Biesiadecki said. She suggests checking neighborhood nurseries, the Orange County Rose Society and local area rose gardens to determine which varieties will do best in your yard.

“Beware of rose information you find on the Internet,” Biesiadecki said. “It’s not necessarily wrong, but it may not apply to your climate.”

Orange County’s climate can accommodate roses almost year-round, making it possible to grow frequent, repeat bloomers. But with general information on the Internet, “you might be advised to grow a rose that only blooms once a year,” she added.

It’s also important to choose roses that are disease-resistant, said Ekuan. “Some roses are gorgeous, but they need so much care that it takes the joy out of growing them,” he said. “There are also diseases that attack certain roses and there is no good solution for getting rid of them. On the other hand, there are many beautiful disease-resistant rose varieties available.”

3) Quality. Always buy No.1-grade roses, which are larger than

lower-grade ones and have more canes.

To ensure quality, Biesiadecki recommends shopping for bare-root and established rosebushes at local nurseries.

When choosing bare-root rosebushes, check the roots to ensure that they are sturdy and firm. If the plants are prepackaged in plastic bags, make sure that the roots haven’t broken off from the canes.

4) Location. “Roses require a minimum of six hours of sun a day and it’s best if some of that is morning sun, which will help prevent diseases,” said Carlson, a consulting rosarian, rose judge and charter member of the Orange County Rose Society, which started in 1964.

Although there will be some blooms in partial shade, the flowers won’t be as abundant or as big.

Avoid planting where the roses will get competition from tree roots, Biesiadecki said. “Roses are soloists. If you can’t plant in the ground, try containers. Roses can live their entire lives in a pot, as long as the container is large enough and you keep the plant well watered and fertilized. For hybrid teas, you will need a 15-gallon nursery container.”

5) Environment. Soil preparation is key, Ekuan said. “It’s important to give roses a good home.”

He suggests conditioning the soil with compost and letting it sit for at least two weeks before planting.

If you will be planting where roses were already growing, eliminate the existing soil and old roots, Carlson said. “Remove at least five gallon-buckets of soil and replace with half fresh soil and half compost.”

Mulch to provide a good environment for existing rosebushes. “Mulch keeps the soil temperature even and it breaks down into humic acid, which improves the soil structure,” said Carlson, who uses partially composted leaves to mulch her rose beds.

6) Care. “Roses aren’t the ideal plant for the desert conditions of Southern California, but if you can water them well, it does wonders for them,” Ekuan said.

Roses also like to be fed, Biesiadecki said. She suggests using alfalfa meal and iron twice a year, after pruning in January and August.

“Alfalfa meal releases a growth hormone known as triacontanol, which makes the roses thrive,” she said.

Biesiadecki also advises applying an all-purpose fertilizer with micronutrients monthly if it’s granular and every two weeks if it’s liquid. The nitrogen level of the fertilizer should be no higher than 10. If you have a fertilizer that is higher, dilute it.

For an organic approach, use fish emulsion, which is low in nitrogen. Fertilize from mid-March to mid-November.

7) Inspections. Your best defense against sickly plants is prevention and that requires frequent pest and disease inspections, which allow you to spot problems before they’ve had a chance to do significant damage.

Aphids, spider mites and powdery mildew can be removed with a strong spray of water. If you see rust starting on a plant, dispose of infected leaves in a covered trash can. There are sprays for pests and diseases, but the ones for rust and powdery mildew won’t remove the problem, just prevent it from occurring.

If you find it necessary to use a pesticide or horticultural oil, consult a certified nursery professional regarding which one is right for your situation and follow the package directions carefully. Also be aware that these sprays often harm beneficial insects such as bees, ladybugs and green lacewings.

8) Neatness. Your garden will have fewer pest problems and look better overall if you clean up regularly.

“Deadhead your spent blooms,” Biesiadecki said. “It’s also important to cut back any dieback, which refers to stems that have browned and died. If you don’t cut these parts off below the dieback, the entire cane will eventually die.

“Also make sure to regularly clean up debris on the ground after you finish pruning, as cuttings left behind can spread pests and diseases.”

9) Equipment. Keep equipment clean and sharp, which makes your job easier and is kinder to the plants. Use pruners and loppers that fit your hands and are comfortable. There are tools on the market for individuals with arthritis and tendinitis. For protection when pruning, wear leather gloves, long pants and long sleeves.

10) Pruning. In our mild climate, roses should be pruned back by one-third. Strip all foliage off the plants. Then cut twiggy growth back to the main cane and clear out any dead or crossing stems.

Also cut older canes to the base to make room for new ones.

Cover cuts that are larger than your middle finger with white glue.

When pruning, make the cut one-quarter inch above the bud eye, facing away at a 45-degree angle. The bud eye is a bump on the cane where new growth will appear. Generally these bumps are where leaves were previously growing.

After pruning, use dormant sprays, which will kill leftover fungus and mold spores and get rid of pests such as scale.

When rain isn’t expected for at least 12 hours, spray with lime sulfur spray one week and a copper oil-based spray the next week.

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More Information

* Learn the secrets of growing great roses from Virginia Carlson, who is conducting a Rose Care and Pruning class today, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Fullerton Arboretum. Cost is $7 per household; free to members of the Friends of the Fullerton Arboretum. 1900 Associated Road at Yorba Linda Blvd., Fullerton. (714) 278-3579.

* The Orange County Rose Society meets on the first Thursday of the month at 18182 Culver Drive in Irvine at 7:30 p.m. (949) 494-2697.

* The Rose Society of Saddleback Mountain meets the second Thursday of the month at the Rancho Santa Margarita Water District building, 26111 Antonio Parkway at 7:00 p.m., (949) 830-3478 or (949) 496-3425.

* Contact the American Rose Society at (318) 938-5402 or on the Web at https://www.ars.org. Go to the consulting rosarian’s page and check for someone in your area.