El Dorado County Master Gardeners

Roses seem to be the most misunderstood plant in gardens because so many believe that all are troublesome, prone to diseases and pests, and require much pampering with weekly sprays and frequent fertilizing. This is definitely true for those exhibiting roses, but it is not the case for the average gardener who just likes pretty flowers. If you are new to roses, there are many different types to choose from and familiarizing yourself with their differences will help get them off to a good start in your garden.

Hybrid Teas
This is the rose everyone pictures when they think of roses and the most popular.   Modern hybrid teas have come a long way because breeders are constantly improving disease resistance and overall garden performance. Flowers are large and generally produced one to a stem. It is not true that fragrance has been bred out of these roses as there are many excellent tea roses with strong fragrances and more are being introduced each year. Formal rose gardens are most amenable to hybrid teas, but can be planted in more informal settings and still look good.

Floribundas
These are commonly called cluster roses and come in many shapes and colors. Like the hybrid teas, floribunda varieties have excellent fragrance and unmatched flowers, providing bloom from spring to hard frost. Most varieties grow 2 to 4 feet tall, but there are some larger ones. If you are looking for roses that provide armloads of cut flowers, try planting a few floribundas.

Grandifloras
These are vigorous plants and can reach 8 to 10 feet tall and have flowers that are borne singly or in long-stemmed clusters; many are a cross between hybrid teas and floribundas.

Climbing Roses
The modern climber is usually a repeat bloomer and grows 10 to 12 feet. There are many different types available and the most favored for growing on trellises and arbors. Climbing roses bloom best when the canes are horizontal, so this is how they should be trained. The canes need to be anchored to the structure by ties of some sort as they do not self-attach like some vines.

Miniature Roses
This is a group of roses with all the characteristics of larger ones reduced to mini proportions. You can even find miniature climbing roses with smaller flowers and leaves growing to about 7 feet tall. However, most grow about 14 inches high, are usually ever-blooming and come in every color. These roses are wonderful container plants and will flourish with minimal care.

Old Garden and Shrub Roses
Among die-hard rosarians, the dividing line between old and modern roses is 1867, the year the first hybrid tea rose was introduced. Old garden and shrub roses are separate from one another, but have similar growth habits, The shrub rose has growth habits varying from low, ground covering types to large, impenetrable hedge types. These are usually very winter hardy and healthy, with rugosas being virtually disease-free. Some of the shrub roses have an added bonus of colorful fall hip displays. Hips are the seedpods or fruit of the rose and are produced in a wide assortment of bright fall colors; they generally are more abundant on old garden roses.

Now that you're familiar with the various types of roses, how do you grow them easily? Right now, bare-root roses are well stocked in local nurseries and they are the least expensive to buy; just make sure you choose a #1 grade as these are grown according to very strict standards. As long as your soil can be dug, bare-root roses can be planted as soon as you purchase them; potted roses are best planted in spring. Soak the bare roots in a bucket of warm water for a few hours and while they're soaking, dig your planting hole. It is important to pick a site that gets at least 6 hours of sun exposure a day – roses are not shade lovers – and where there is good water drainage. Dig the hole a bit larger than the root system and make a mound of soil in the middle. Spread the roots over this mound, positioning the plant's crown slightly above the soil line to allow for settling. Refill the planting hole, firming the soil as you go, and then water well. Winter rains should be enough after that until spring, but if no rain occurs for a few weeks, keep the plant watered. Do not add any fertilizer at planting time; that will come later when green growth begins.