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Think I'll try again...

15 years ago

When I last posted here, I was having a terrible time with roses. To remind you-live in NW Houston, zone 9. New to gardening. Attempting to use organic methods. Had bought some HT's, thinking I was doing the "right" thing. Leaves turned yellow, brown and plants looked horrible. Too much water, not enough water-made me crazy. I decided to just keep going, keep watering and see what happened.

Now, almost 2 months later, the plants are still around. All have new growth, and I have had blooms on 3 of the 5!! One, Plum Frost, has gotten tall and put out many blooms in the last 2 weeks or so. Now no more buds. Disneyland had a few blooms, which smelled wonderful. I have a bush that is still small and not great looking, but has put out about 5 creamy pale yellow blooms, also with a nice smell. Have no idea what the name is. These latter 2 do not have any buds either. All have new, red growth. They still also have yellow leaves, some of which turn brown, but the new growth has me inspired.

Questions: should I feed them now? It is still well over 90 degrees here. Should I expect better and/or more blooms next year, which will be season 2?

I had created a new garden bed in my south facing yard in the beginning of summer, and now have decided that I will be turning that into a rose bed. Will stay away from HT's. Am exploring which type to plant, although I am thinking Earthkind. I do have a Belinda's Dream in there already, but it is not doing well. Only a few blooms since May. Question-anything special I should do to prep the bed for roses? I have a compost bin, so have access to that. The bed is mulched, so I will remove the mulch to prep the bed, then replace it. After the bed is prepped, should I wait to plant in spring, or do it in the fall? Feed at planting or wait until spring? Remember, I am thinking these will be Earthkind Roses, but may look at some China's. Need more info on them.

Sorry for a long post. I am getting the "rose bug" again, and am wanting to start off giving the plants the best chance for survival.

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Comments (2)

scardan123
15 years ago
Usually roses are not to be fed when it's hot, but just before and after, so in early spring (to give them a good start) and at the beginning of autumn, for a good "last display" of flowers before they stop.
I agree that HT roses are very disease prone, even those who are more resistant cannot live healthy on their own.

You could try the knockout roses (pink, red, single and double), and the china roses: these are very healthy and love the sun. They are zero maintenance or nearly-zero m.

Regardless of the roses you will choose, remember that the best remedy for all diseases is prevention. The best prevention is a good exposition: sun, light, and especially air: air must circulate. This will prevent fungal diseases a lot. Give this to an extremely healthy rose such as knockout or mutabilis, and you will never see diseases.

The rose bed: remember roses love space, so you have to imagine them full grown, to plant them with the correct distance. Dig a deep hole and fill it with very fertile earth. If you do not have a good drainage, add some (only some!) sand to the earth and put some small stones at the bottom of the hole: these will help improving the drainage.
PS: a slightly acid soil is ideal; anything with a bit of peat will do
jerijen
15 years ago
Lisa -- When it's not raining, (when the Gustav weather is gone) why don't you
make a day-trip to the Antique Rose Emporium, in Brenham?

Their whole reason for existing is to grow and distribute roses which are disease-
resistant and healthy in your part of Texas.
And they have a truly beautiful Display Garden, so you can see many of the roses they
offer growing in conditions just like yours.

You can prepare for your visit by visiting their newly-renovated web site,
(See Link, below).

Growing roses will be more of a pleasure if the roses you are growing are
ones that are suited to your conditions.

Jeri

Here is a link that might be useful: The Antique Rose Emporium, Brenham, TX
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