New to rose gardening

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Hi everyone! I am VERY new to rose gardening. I live in Huntsville Alabama so my zone is 7b (I think). I have some beautiful knockout roses and I would really like to expand. Can someone please explain to me what bare root and own root roses are and the advantages / disadvantages of each? I'm trying to find a yellow rose that is heat/disease resistant and can thrive in high humidity. Right now a Honey Bouquet rose looks like the best candidate. What are some reputable mail-order websites? Can someone please point me in the right direction?? And can someone also please help me understand all of the classifications like Floribunda, Grandiflora, and double bloom, semi-double bloom etc.? Thank you for the help!

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Buford_NE_GA_7A

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

First off, welcome! You have come to the right place.

Bare root just means that the plant is shipped bare, with no soil. It's cheaper to ship plants this way. Most of these plants are dug up in the fall and kept in cold storage and then shipped out in the late winter, while they are still dormant. In the south, we can plant almost anytime, but late winter to early spring is the best time for bare roots. The come out of dormancy as they are planted.

Own root simply means that the rose is growing on it's own roots. Many roses are grafted, meaning the root stock is different from the scion (the top of the plant that the roses bloom off of). It's important to know if you have an own root or grafted. If you have a graft, you must plant the graft at or slightly below the surface. Own roots, it doesn't matter. Some grafted plants can go own root if you bury the graft and the scion part puts out its own roots. Grafted plants usually mature faster and can be stronger. Some roses don't do well on their own roots, so a grafted specimen can be better. Many old garden roses are on own roots and do well. Also the own root rose can die back to the ground yet survive because the roots can put out new canes.

Floribunda is a term for a hybrid tea type rose that blooms in clusters instead of single blooms on one stem. Grandifloria is kind of a cross between a hybrid tea (which is similar to a florist type rose) and a Floribunda. They are usually very tall, and can grow to 7 or 8 feet tall.

The original rose blooms only had 5 petals. A double has 15 or more. Semi double has 6-15. There are blooms with over 100 petals.

Mail order that I have used are Palantine, Rogue Valley, Heirloom, Roses Unlimited. There are also nurseries that sell roses of good quality. Since you are in the south, you can grow roses on Fortuniana rootstock. K&M Roses in Mississippi sells beautiful roses on Fortuniana.

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Comments (15)

modestgoddess z6 OH
8 years ago
South Africa by Kordes is supposed to do well in the heat

https://www.chambleeroses.com/order/Kordes®/South-Africa-Sunbelt®-%28KORberbeni%29™/475

http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=2.34109
ethanv thanked modestgoddess z6 OH
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I can't tell you what they are at the moment. I think you will have to will 'til spring. If you are in zone 5 you will probably be wise to winterize the roses just in case they aren't winter hardy. Mound some dry soil over the base of the plant so that the bud union (the lumpy bit at or around soil level) is well covered by 4 to 6 inches. Then cover the mound with some mulch like pine needles, shredded leaves, wood chips, shredded bark etc. to a depth of maybe 12 inches. You can use a cage of chicken wire to hold it in. When it snows make sure they are well covered by snow even if you have to shovel a bit on yourself. Then sit back and wait until spring. In about April or whenever things start to warm up, start slowly uncovering the bush. Scrape off the mulch and over about a week or two gently wash the soil from around the canes. Trim off any dead wood and away you go !!
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Bernik, I'm not familiar with the roses you plan to use, so can't say how they would look, depends so much on where you are most often viewing your roses from. But in general, I would plant by expected height and habit first, making sure you've left enough space between each. You could put lower-growing roses with perhaps a more trailing habit at the front of the walk, and taller ones at the back. If that's a fence border in front, you could consider a climber on either side. Color is too personal for advice. I like to have waves of similarly pale roses, waves of similarly orange to reddish to yellow to buff roses, with a few true pinks and deep magentas here and there. I work with a cottage garden style, where you might prefer a different look. Try not to worry about getting it perfect. Every rose grower looks at their garden and mentally moves roses about like furniture, because that Tchaikovsky would obviously be better on the other side of the porch, now that we see it's growth habit in maturity. But roses aren't furniture, and they don't take to being moved around much. Sometimes you end up with a bit of regret. Since you probably aren't putting them into the ground yet—we have to wait till late May/early June here in Asheville, so the ground is fully warmed up—you still have time to keep looking at rose photos online, making sure you know the color and habit of each rose, and mentally moving them around till you land on what feels right to you. Best of luck!
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Melissa Northern Italy zone 8
8 years ago
Amen to everything Burford said. In addition, ask yourself, what kind of roses do you want to grow? Shrub, large flowered roses of the kinds most often used for cutting, old roses or modern roses with old-fashioned form? There are many different kinds of roses, and you may want to explore. In addition to this forum, Roses, there is also the Antique Rose Forum, good for old roses, and also for shrub roses and ramblers. There's considerable overlap of posters and material on the two forums; both have a lot of information for the curious.

Something to keep in mind is that a given rose can be excellent in one place and a dog in another. The best advice and suggestions come from gardeners who grow roses in conditions--climate and soil--similar to yours.
ethanv thanked Melissa Northern Italy zone 8
mustbnuts zone 9 sunset 9
8 years ago
Welcome ejvall. This is a great group of folks. You will learn a lot from them. I know I learn something every day I am able to sign in.

Burford--Bless you! What a fabulous tutorial! Thank you from those of us who have been gardening for a while. Learned something new again today from you. You should write a book.
ethanv thanked mustbnuts zone 9 sunset 9
Sara-Ann Z6B OK
8 years ago
I don't have anything to add to the good advice from the previous posters. I do hope growing roses will be very rewarding and something you enjoy. There seems to be several very good rosarians in your part of the country on here, so I think you will get lots of good advice from them and others too. Welcome.
ethanv thanked Sara-Ann Z6B OK
cecily
8 years ago
What Buford said.

One additional condition to growing roses in the South is the presence of rose rosette virus (RRD). Please study up on RRD so you can recognize the symptoms. It won't prevent you from growing great roses but you need to be aware of what to watch for so you can quickly remove infected growth.

Also, I hope that you have a few daylilys. When I think of the Huntsville Botanical Garden, its the daylily collection that comes to mind.
ethanv thanked cecily
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
8 years ago
Nothing to add just want to welcome you to rose gardening ejvall7...
ethanv thanked jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
jacqueline9CA
8 years ago
Welcome! I would recommend getting some books on roses. However, it is very important to get ones that talk about roses in the US South - most of them are written in England, and presume that everyone, and every rose, is in England. Thus, they are not very good for other climate conditions. I love G. Michael Shoup's "Roses in the Southern Garden" - you can get it on Amazon for about 8-9 dollars. Also, google Help Me Find/Roses. It is a wonderful web site for learning about roses.

Jackie
ethanv thanked jacqueline9CA
junco East Georgia zone 8a
8 years ago
I garden in similar conditions to yours. I suggest Googling "Earth Kind Roses". These are varieties that have been tested by Texas A&M and found to thrive with little care in hot and humid conditions. I have been very pleased with the ones I have planted.

Chamblee Rose Nursery list of Earth Kind Roses This link will give you some good information even if you buy from another source.
ethanv thanked junco East Georgia zone 8a
towandaaz
8 years ago
Ejvall7, I'm also very new to rose gardening and I purchased the book, "Roses for Dummies" which I think is pretty good as a general primer. Then searching the internet for particulars of rose gardening has worked well. I'm very much enjoying this forum, too. HelpMeFind.com/rose has been helpful for me to research which roses I like, and that will work in my zone. BTW, Honey Bouquet sounds like a fantastic rose rating high in all categories of what makes a great rose. I've purchased most of my roses from a local nursery and Heirloom Roses. Junco's suggestion is awesome because it's so much fun to see a rose thrive versus struggle and have to try to figure out what's wrong with it when there isn't anything "wrong" with it at all - just climate/conditions. Agree that Buford gave a fantastic response to your questions. Best of luck!
ethanv thanked towandaaz
Ken (N.E.GA.mts) 7a/b
8 years ago
Welcome to the world of rose's. I know Buford very well. She lives down the road a few miles. She knows her roses and is a good teacher. Also you might want to check out the Huntsville Rose Society. A lot of the members exhibit but if you don't want any part of exhibiting, you can pick up a LOT of good information on what roses work well in the Huntsville area. A lot or folks don't really care for Knock Out Roses. Mostly because the market is flooded with them. But I enjoy them mixed in with the rest of my roses. Pink Knock Out, Blushing Pink Knock Out and Sunny Knock Out are all great roses to grow and add color to your garden. But like any rose, they do require a little attention to really shine instead of just "being there".
ethanv thanked Ken (N.E.GA.mts) 7a/b
boncrow66
8 years ago
Welcome to your new addiction! Growing roses starts out all innocent and then the next thing you know you are dreaming about roses and showing co-workers pics of roses etc...lol. You will love this forum and will learn a ton from all the experience and knowledge of so many on the forum. I agree that it is best to grow roses that do well in your particular climate, what grows well in one zone may not in another. Have fun and happy gardening!
ethanv thanked boncrow66
mbz10b
8 years ago
Welcome ethanv to the gratifying and sometimes frustrating hobby of growing roses. You should be addicted in no time :-) I can't give you much advice because I am fairly new to rose growing myself. I am glad you found this site. I have learned a tremendous amount from the nice, knowledgeable people here. Another vendor you may want to check out is Cool Roses in West Palm Beach, Fl. They sell roses grown on fortuniana rootstock. If you buy 4, the shipping is free. Sometimes, even roses on sale can end up costing more when shipping costs are added to the price. Good luck. I hope you are soon enjoying many beautiful roses!
ethanv thanked mbz10b
Patty W. zone 5a Illinois
8 years ago
Hi ethanv and welcome to the forums. Can't add too the great advice all ready given. This forum is what started my love of rose growing some 20+ years ago. Happy gardening!
ethanv thanked Patty W. zone 5a Illinois
ethanv
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you guys so much! You were all so helpful, especially Buford!

New to rose gardening

Buford_NE_GA_7A

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modestgoddess z6 OH

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