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Roses Need Roommates

12/11/2017

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PictureSilene x robotii "Rollies Favorite Campion"
    There are many gardeners that will not give roses a chance.  The most common reasons given; "Too much work.", "Roses have so many problems.",  or  "I don't want to use chemicals in my garden."

    I understand how they feel, I used to shy away from them for the same reasons. I changed my mind , finally realizing that these concerns can be resolved by adopting a different growing method  and choosing cultivars that are appropriate for your zone.                                                                                                                          
    It is a myth that roses are high maintenance.  They are easier to dead head than Tagetes patula, "French Marigolds" and only a fraction of the time you would spend on Coreopsis lanceolata.  Both of these plants will stop blooming if you do not tend to them.  Unlike many perennials , roses do not need to be divided every two to three years.

 
  L
ast summer  I spent  two days  digging, dividing, then replanting  Silene x robotii, "Rollies Favorite Campion".  I love this long blooming plant and if you cut it back mid season it will bloom again.  The time required to care for this lovely plant far exceeds what I spend on my roses.  Hopefully you get my point and  will dismiss  the notion of "Too much work" .

    Many of the "problems"  that gardeners have with roses results from isolating them from your perennials and annuals.  
                                                        
The solution is ..... Roses Need Roommates


   Roses that are inter-planted with a variety of blooming plants will encourage a population of beneficial insects and birds. This in turn will help control the unwanted pests. The more bees, lacewings,  parasitic wasps, and birds,  the fewer leaf chomping, petal eating predators you will have to deal with. 

    One of the best examples of controlling aphids comes from the life cycle of the syrphid flies.  The adult feeds on pollen and nectar, during the larval stage they feed on aphids and other soft-bodied  insects.  Keeping the population of aphids  under control prevents  them from sucking  plant sap, which creates a sticky substance called honeydew.  Aphids extrude this honeydew onto the leaf  surface creating the ideal  growing conditions for black mold. Planting the nectar and pollen that syrphid flies need to complete their life cycle will keep your roses from being attacked by aphids

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  When you choose plants to  introduce into the  flower beds with roses there are three conditions you should consider. ​

    Competing  roots are a primary concern.  Choose small, shallow rooted  plants for immediately under  and around  the rose bush.  I like to plant Lobularia maritima "Sweet Alyssum" seed around the bushes as a first line of defense.

    The sweet cluster of Alyssum flowers  attract the smallest of the beneficial parasitic wasps.  The roots will not interfere with that of your rose and if left in place  after the first  killing frost of fall, it provides  a shallow layer of protection for the youngest of roots on your rose bush. 

    After the last frost date in the spring create a ring of compost 12 inches from the trunk and liberally spread the seeds on top. Cover the seed lightly with vermiculite or chicken grit, and  make sure to  keep the seed  moist until germination.  The plants will usually begin blooming  in late June and  will continue until the first hard freeze of fall. 

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  The second consideration is bloom time. In order to attract a large number of beneficial  insects to your garden you will need flowers blooming the entire growing season.

​    Having early and late bloomers is a challenge for many gardeners.  You want a mix of these surrounding your roses.  In far north climates you can use annuals that have been started early indoors and then potted into larger containers. Place the pots among your later blooming perennials. Make sure to water them frequently. 

    Glandularia canadensis "Verbena" is an easy to grow annual and is long blooming. Once the summer perennials start blooming you will need to move the pots to another part of the garden so they are not shaded out. 
​

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   The last item to consider is the size and type of blooms of your pollinator friendly plants. Beneficial insects are small , so nectar and pollen are taken easiest from clusters of tiny, shallow flower that grow horizontally.  
​ Variation in height is important. Many of the predator insects are so small and light weight that they have little say in where they will travel, air currents push them around. There is no traffic control out there. Providing a variety of landing places up to four feet high is helpful. 


     A word about roses themselves. I grow only "own root roses". Most grafted roses do poorly in Northern New England.  That does not mean you can't grow them, they just will require more winter root protection and vigilance. Grafted roses have a shorter life expectancy than those grown from cuttings.  Older varieties of roses will be more resistant to pests and fungus. 

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    Blossom

    Deciding what to grow and nurture  has long been the most difficult decision gardeners make.

    ​     My hope is you will find some food for thought and follow along as I share my successes and stumbles, as well as outright failures.

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