The end of the rose season is fast approaching, and our emails and physical mailboxes are filled with ideas about new roses to add to our gardens. November and December are a time for Arizona Rosarians to consider what needs to be added or replaced in their rose gardens.
Catalogs are easy to deal with. I can thumb through the pages, note some good-looking roses, and then put the catalog in a basket with all the other catalogs we receive during this time of year. The beautiful pictures don’t attract me like those I see online. Emails from rose growers are my downfall. The online missives draw me to their website and then overwhelm my senses with an array of beautifully bright roses that I can’t seem to ignore. Nursery visits are even more enticing. No rosarian ever can walk through Berridge Nursery and come out empty-handed. An actual plant, purchased from a local provider, is always my favorite choice. Today’s feature picture is of roses that are waiting to be purchased at Marbil Nursery Creations in Litchfield Park, AZ.
Each year, we learn that new and better roses are hitting the market. They often are more hardy and disease-resistant than those we bought in past years. However, buying a new rose doesn’t mean automatic success. Local considerations sometimes overrule a plant’s strengths, and we end up shoveling pruning plants that should have been starring in our garden.
Right Rose, Right Place
I have lost roses because of disease, but that isn’t the biggest reason I dig out a plant. Most of my failures are because I planted the rose in the wrong location. I’ve failed to consider the size of the mature plant with regard to where it is in my flower beds or in what type of pot I have planted the specimen. I also have misjudged the amount of sunlight that a plant receives in certain parts of my garden.
I have large mesquite trees on the west side of the house and a covered north patio, which limits the sunlight to the plants in my west garden. I’ve tried to ensure the roses in the northwest part of my garden are getting at least six hours of sunlight. Roses that accept “partial sun” tend to grow slower and don’t produce the number of blooms in sunnier locations. This area is still challenging, and I suspect I’ll keep trying to find varieties that will work in my “shady” section.
My east garden roses are exposed to direct sunlight for most of the day. To survive the relentless summer sun, these plants require more water, consistent fertilization, and a better layer of mulch.
This year, I lost two plants in the sunny east garden and three in the shaded west garden. I have also identified a handful of plants, which I will relocate because they have outgrown their spot in the garden. Again, be aware of the mature size of your rose plant. If you underestimate what three feet wide may look like, you will find another rose being swallowed by your growing giant.
This brings us to today’s topic: Why do you want a new rose? It’s a fair question but one that is often ignored.
What Will the New Rose Add to Your Garden?
Before purchasing a rose, you need to consider what you expect from your new plant. Are you looking for a splash of color in your garden? Maybe, you are looking for a rose that will show nicely along a walkway? Have you considered growing long-stemmed roses, which you can arrange in a vase inside your house? Or, are you an exhibitionist looking to win top awards at the local rose show? Knowing the purpose of the new rose will give you a starting point in choosing a new plant.
Where Are You Going to Plant Your Rose?
Then, you’ll need to decide where the new rose will be planted. Most of us have limited space for our roses. I longingly look at the large estates around town and wish I had their garden. I grew 61 roses this season and probably should have limited myself to 50 plants. However, I greedily keep trying to tuck one more rose in the garden without considering whether it’s sensible.
I typically have all my next-year roses in the ground by the new year. However, I rationalize several more purchases in January that I can keep in pots near my flower beds because there is no room for them elsewhere. The only thing these extra roses do is give me a year to let them get some first-year growth and use the best ones to replace other roses that don’t survive the summer.
I wish this was a good problem, but there are certain rose varieties that I am strongly attached to. While I might fill a hole with an established plant, I still find myself actively searching to add/replace a personal favorite, which leads to too many roses.
What Traits Does the New Rose Bring Into the Garden?
Let’s assume you have answered the first two questions. Then, you need to consider your location. Central Arizona is in Zone 9B, and we rarely go below freezing in the winter. OK, there’s always that one week right around New Year’s that accounts for our version of winter. Additionally, we have a long growing season that typically includes about four months of 100+ degree weather.
Hardiness and vigor are two essential traits for roses. After that, I look at disease resistance, bloom cycle frequency, fragrance, and form.
I find myself looking for plants that are prolific bloomers. I like the idea of walking outside and looking at a sea of color. Individual experience has taught me that a hybrid tea or floribunda will typically bloom more often than an old garden rose or shrub rose, which will bloom heavily in the spring, possibly followed by a second flush when the weather cools in the fall.
I gravitate to roses that allow me to take pictures throughout the year. The spring blooms are different from the summer blooms. Then, I get excited when the cool temperatures bring back the big blooms—though they often show more wear than the spring flowers.
I must admit I don’t pay as much attention to roses with high centers the same way as rosarians who look to win Queen of Show at the local rose shows. If I were an exhibitor, I would need to focus more on what roses perform best for show purposes. Instead, I gawk at their beautiful roses when I go to a rose show or read the American Rose Society’s “American Rose” magazine.
What Will You Tell Your Spouse?
While you’re standing near the roses at the local nursery, take a moment to consider why you are buying another rose. This reflection will help you later when you need to explain to your spouse why you decided to bring home some more new roses.
