Georgia Magazine - January 2010 - (Page 32)

Get ready for roses Plant now for spring and summer TER OUL MICHAEL C BY LYNN COULTER winter garden isn’t usually a pretty sight. Leafless trees and bare bushes leave the best-kept yards looking brown and dreary. But with mild temperatures and a sheltered growing spot, some gardeners will have roses right up to Christmas. Even in colder parts of Georgia, where freezing weather forces roses into dormancy, the plants still offer something to enjoy. Late buds and stems gleam in the winter sun when they’re glazed with ice. Hips, which are roses’ seed pods, add cheerful color during the off-season and provide food for birds. Of course, cut flowers will be available again in February, in time for Valentine’s Day. But if you’re a gardener with an early case of rose fever, you’re in luck. There’s still time to plant bare-root roses from now through very early spring. You’ll find bare-root roses sold in cardboard cartons or in long, plastic “tubes” packed with moistened medium. Local nurseries sell them, as do mail-order companies, although shipping may be delayed or suspended when temperatures plummet. Roses are labeled as grades 1, 11/2 and 2, but for best results, choose the more expensive grade-1 plants. While there’s nothing wrong with the cheaper grades, they can take longer to develop strong roots and canes. Grade-1 plants reward you with flowers much sooner. Digging deep Once your roses arrive, or you bring them home, unwrap the plants and immerse them for a few hours in tepid water. Even though they’re dormant, the canes and roots may shriv- Red roses symbolize love and romance. Plant now, and you’ll have bouquets for cutting by next summer. Remember that Georgia’s hot sun can burn the leaves on rose bushes, so locate your plants where they’ll get some afternoon shade, if possible. Above right is the Double Knockout Rose. Once spring arrives, start feeding your roses. Systemic rose foods are absorbed through the roots when it rains, or when you water your garden.They’ll help protect against insects for about six weeks, while also providing necessary nutrients. Look for an 8-12-4 fertilizer to promote healthy roots and big blooms. el after they’ve been dug and packaged. A thorough soaking will plump them up again. Next, pick a good location for your plants. Roses need full sun, but appreciate light afternoon shade in Georgia’s hot summers. If your soil is heavy clay, dig deep beds for your plants, or build raised beds and add organic materials like peat moss or compost. The beds should drain easily, since rose roots can rot in standing water. Sandy soils, which often don’t hold enough moisture, can be improved by adding organic matter too. As long as the soil isn’t frozen, you can plant your new bare-root roses. Dig holes wide and deep enough to accommodate the roots when they are spread out. Remove the roses from their refreshing soak and put enough soil back into the hole to form a cone-shaped mound. Put the plant on top of the cone, letting the roots drape down. Keep the bud union, which is the knob on the root stock, just above soil level. Water well and mulch. After the first hard frost, cut your MICHAEL COULTER Where to buy roses: • Lowe’s, Home Depot or Pike Nurseries • Jackson and Perkins—jacksonandperkins.com • Knock Out Roses: www.conard-pyle.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/koplants.splash • Antique Rose Emporium—antiqueroseemporium.com To learn more: Rose.org www.georgiamagazine.org GEORGIA MAGAZINE COURTESY OF WWW.JACKSONANDPERKINS.COM http://www.jacksonandperkins.com http://www.conard-pyle.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/koplants.splash http://www.antiqueroseemporium.com http://www.Rose.org http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - January 2010

Georgia Magazine - January 2010
Contents
Viewpoint
Picture This?
Georgia News
Calendar
Currents
Coming to a Set Near You
The Joy of the Journey
Around Georgia
My Georgia
Georgia Gardens
Georgia Cooks
Cookbook of the Month
Snapshot

Georgia Magazine - January 2010