Sharifa Asma
Taboo
Voodoo
Melody Parfume
DA Evelyn (my husband found on sale for something like $5)
My Mom's Rose, Nancy Reagan - new this year
Yellow Dream Rose with FeverfewI have a small, but intimate, bed of roses. I love pulling in the driveway and having their beautiful faces greet me. So far, this has been a good year for them. They loved the wet, cold, spring and I watched them closely for any signs of blackspot.
My goal this year was to rid them of the thrips that almost ruined them last year. The spring had started out hot and dry last year and they really took hold. I was determined to get rid of them, and whether or not it was my effort (hope it was) or Mother Nature's, I'm pleased to report that I see very little sign of thrips this year. Last fall, before I put them to bed, I removed most of the surface soil, then placed newspapers on the ground around each rose. Then, I piled lots of clean compost mixed with a little manure, with a heavy top dressing of mulch for the winter. Then I prayed... a LOT!
This spring when I uncovered some of the soil and mulch, I used Bayers 2 in 1 systemic, being pretty generous. As each bud began to appear I sprayed with Safer Rose Insect product. Later I added a new fertilizer I found at the nursery...Peace of Mind Organic (boy, did I ever need that). I had lost two new roses because of the harsh winter, and two of the older ones are recovering. But I've had some beautiful blooms this first flush, with.... get it.... NO THRIPS! Hooray! A rosarian I'm not, but I sure do love my roses.
6 comments:
Hi Bev,
I was under the impression that roses would not do well here in Colorado. Boy, you showed me different!
What kind of rose would you recommend for my situation; altitude 7,000 feet, fairly windy and most likely full sun?
Love all those colors, and I bet they smell heavenly too.
Your roses do look great. I don't do much with roses, but I have seen so many posts of roses that I am reconsidering...
Ellen, I actually think Colorado is a good place for roses because they seem to like a cool spring, we have lots of dry sunshine, and are not as plagued with as many diseases that are pron to some other environments. I seem to see quite a few negative comments about hybrid teas because they are so fussy and must be pampered, but I like doing it. I seem to have a more personal relationship with my roses that with many of the other flowers.
I think I would like to try some Knockout roses, but don't have any more room. They are said to be very easy to care for and pretty disease resistant. Hybrid Teas are still probably my favorite. Also there are sooo many David Austin and Old Roses that are beautiful and smell soooo good! You might visit some local nurseries and get their opinions as to what they find grows best at this altitude.
Carol, I'm glad you like my roses. They are like "children" to me and I love "messing" with them. I'm sure you would be a good "mother" to them, from the looks of your other plants and your love of gardening.
Bev, your rose garden is gorgeous and what a lovely greeting when you arrive home! I agree that roses are easier to grow in Colorado - no Japanese beetles for one thing. And we hardly ever have to worry about mildew. Sounds like you did all the right things for your roses. Being a lazy gardener, a systemic in spring is about it for me, if I see thrip I shoot them off with the garden hose. They can't climb back up!
LostRoses...I like your idea of shooting them off with water. If I see a few this year I will do that. Didn't know they couldn't climb back up! They were so prolific last year that had I done that I would have had no rose left. I did bring the roses inside and soaked them in a sink full of water. That got rid of a a few, but they kept crawling out in the bouquet. What a mess that was!
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