Getting started on rose trees can be intimidating for beginners and for those who don’t want to spend too much time repeating treatments.
If you feel this is your situation, follow these tips!
Choosing rose tree varieties that resist diseases
In the big rose tree family, certain cultivars are more hardy than others. For example, this is the case of most botanical and heirloom roses. Botanical roses are genetically close to wild rose trees, they are very resistant, bear charming flowers, and are covered with edible fruits come fall. For instance, try out the gallica rose.
Old roses or heirloom roses are hybrids of botanical varieties such as the gallica rose, the Damascus rose, the centifolia rose, etc. They grow into loosely standing shrubs. They are very easy to grow and pruning them is similar to the pruning of any other shrub. Rambler or vine rose trees, that can grow over 30 feet (10 meters) tall, are another option.
Choose quality rose trees, preferably with bare roots, and plant them when they are in dormancy from November to March. Careful planting is important to ensure proper regrowth. Plant your rose tree in a hole 16 inches (40 cm) wide and deep, which allows for proper spreading of the roots. Remember to remove rocks and weeds from the soil.
Before planting, cut back the roots and branches of the plant to 12 inches (30 cm). Apply root dip to the roots, prepared from one third soil, one third well-decomposed compost, and one third rain water.
Stay true to plant spacing recommendations mentioned for each species (at least 32 inches (80 cm)): rose trees need air and sun to grow well.
Preventive organic treatments help reduce chance of disease in that the plants are reinforced.
They are particularly applicable in case of stormy, wet and moist weather, to avoid fungal diseases such as rust, black spot disease or powdery mildew.
Spray your roses with fermented nettle, comfrey, or horsetail tea or marine seaweed extract.
Laure Hamann
