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Maintaining
an organic yard is an excellent way to protect your family,
pets, and wildlife from harmful chemicals. It is also an excellent
way to help create a sustainable environment.
Roses
are the ‘Queen of Flowers’ and can add elegance
and a real sense of joy to any yard. If you love roses, you
will be pleased to find that growing them organically is easy
and inexpensive. The real secret to all organic gardening is
a basic understanding of how nature works. Once you understand
the basics of nature’s garden, tending your own organic
roses will be a thrilling adventure.
Before
digging into mother earth’s gardening secrets, you may
be interested in the amazing history of roses.
Rose
History
Roses are the most revered flower in the world today and have
probably always been the most revered flower. Ancient civilizations
revered them for their beauty, aromatic oil, and medicinal powers.
Rose
petals have tannin, which is an astringent, and were used to
control bleeding. Rose petals were also used as an infusion
for diarrhea. Rose oil and rose water were used in China for
stomach and colon problems. It would be easy to write a book
about the many early uses of roses.
Modern
rose classification refers to wild varieties of roses as ‘Species’
roses. Roses belong to the family Rosaceae (plums, apples, almonds,
etc.), and the genus Rosa. Wild Species Roses contain many different
varieties. They have colorful five-petaled flowers, usually
bloom once in the summer, and are usually very hardy.
Hybridization
and other ‘meddling’ has added many beautiful colors
and other traits, but has often created weaker plants. As an
example, grafting one kind of rose onto a different rose root
stock is a common practice, which often creates a rose that
is more prone to pathogenic attack.
The
oldest rose fossils that have been found are in Colorado. They
were alive 40 million years ago. Wild roses grow naturally in
many parts of the northern hemisphere; from India and the Tigris-Euphrates
River Valley to Egypt; and from Siberia and Europe to the Americas.
In the Americas, they grow from the snows of Canada to the tropics
of Mexico.
However, wild roses are found most frequently in temperate climates
and, amazingly, do not seem to be native to the southern hemisphere.
Roses
were the most sacred flowers in Egypt and used as offerings
for the Goddess Isis. They have also been found in Egyptian
tombs, where they were formed into funerary wreaths. Confucius,
who lived from 551 BC to 479 BC, reported that the Imperial
Chinese library had many books about roses.
Indian sages referred to roses in ancient Sanskrit literature.
Ancient Samarians of Mesopotamia (in the Tigris-Euphrates River
Valley) mentioned roses in a cuneiform tablet written in approximately
2860 BC. Obviously, roses were used and cultivated long before
they were documented by early cultures.
Roses
were also cultivated by the Grecians and Romans. It is possible
that Romans introduced cultivated roses to England and France.
The English were already cultivating and hybridizing roses in
the 15th Century. That’s when the English War of Roses
took place. The winner of the war, Tudor Henry VII, created
the Rose of England (Tudor Rose) by crossbreeding other roses.
Cultivated
roses were brought to the Americas by the 16th Century.
In
the early 1800s, Empress Josephine who was now divorced from
Napoleon, created a rose garden with every known variety. She
also encouraged the crossbreeding of roses.
Besides
Species Roses, there are now two other important categories—Modern
Roses and Old Roses. Modern roses are generally accepted as
roses that were developed from 1867 to present (1867 is the
generally accepted date of the first hybrid tea rose). Old Roses
are roses that existed before 1867. There are 15 categories
of Old Roses and 10 categories of Modern Roses.
You
can find a lot more fascinating rose history if you spend time
on the internet or visit your local library.
How
Nature Works
Whether it is roses, other flower
gardening, or just about any type of plant, the secret to
successful organic gardening of any kind is to understand the
way nature works. Nature always tries to maintain a delicate
balance. By understanding the basics of how plants grow, you
will understand how to maintain nature’s balance and thus
keep your roses healthy.
Basically,
water and nutrients are absorbed into the root system and pulled
up through the stems into the green leaves by the process of
photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is a plant process that uses water and energy
from the sun to convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates that
it uses for growth and other plant functions.
The
carbohydrates are stored in the branches and stems of roses,
trees, and other plants. These stored carbohydrates are used
as reserve energy for the plant. When a crises occurs, such
as a broken stem or pathogenic attack, the stored carbohydrates
are used. Stored carbohydrates are also used in the spring to
create new stems and foliage.
A
natural soil environment teems with bacteria, fungi, nematodes,
earthworms, and other soil organisms. Many of these soil organisms
break down dead leaves and other materials into humus, which
enriches the soil. Other soil organisms form symbiotic relationships
with roses and other plants.
A
symbiotic relationship is a relationship that is beneficial
to all participants in the relationship. Mycorrhizal fungus
creates an important symbiotic relation with roses and other
plants. Mycorrhiza attaches itself to the roots of your roses
and other plants. It uses some of the carbohydrates stored by
your plants to grow, but helps your roses and other plants by
making minerals more available. In a healthy soil environment,
the mycorrhizae attached to one of your roses will grow and
become interconnected to the mycorrhizae of other roses and
plants. In effect, it provides a secondary root system for your
garden plants.
Roses
and other plants also release exudates from their roots that
attract beneficial organisms. As an example, exudates from rose
roots attract friendly bacterium that ward off pathogenic fungi.
Beneficial
soil organisms, which are found in natural humus and compost,
also make minerals more available to your roses and other plants.
Beneficial soil organisms also help protect roses and other
plants from predatory life forms.
Another
important thing to understand is that plants of all kinds are
a little bit like humans—some get along very well and
some don’t. Some plants grow well together and actually
help each other survive. Other plants inhibit neighboring plants.
Plants that grow well together are referred to as companion
plants. Companion plants are an important factor in any garden.
We
will talk more about them later.
Organic
growers recognize that pathogenic attacks are an indication
that the plant or plants are out of balance. Organic growers
know that pathogens can’t get a foothold on a healthy
plant.
Commonly
used chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides destroy
soil organisms and throw roses, flowers, and other plants out
of balance. The imbalance created by these chemicals attracts
pathogens.
Our
meddling also creates havoc in roses and other plants. Over-pruning
reduces carbohydrate storage, throws the plant out of balance,
and often opens the door to pathogens. Hybridization often creates
weaker plants. The practice of grafting rose stems onto a different
root stock often creates roses that are susceptible to pathogenic
attacks.
Creating
Your Own Rose Garden
If you want to plant a rose garden that consists of two or three
roses, or a whole bunch of roses, you need to begin planning.
The
first thing to do is to think about where you want to plant
your roses and what colors you might like. Be sure to consider
the other colors in your yard, as well as your house, walkways,
etc. Roses grow best with a minimum of six hours of full sun,
although some varieties can tolerate a bit more shade. Your
shade/full sun areas will affect your possible rose garden locations.
The
next thing to do is to find out what roses grow well in your
climate.
Look at rose gardens in your local area to see what roses seem
to grow well and how much you like them. Ask nursery experts
what roses grow well in your area. Another good source is your
local rose club. This will give you a good idea of the colors,
sizes, and other characteristics that will grow well in your
area.
Companion
Plants
Once you have decided on the roses you like, you need to learn
about companion plants. Roses really do love garlic, as well
as other plants of the onion family. Onions are of the order
Asparaginales and family Alliaceae. The onion family is made
up of 500 species.
Although
planting garlic in your rose garden will help protect your roses,
there are many other onion varieties that will protect your
roses and also provide beautiful flowers to enhance your roses.
Marigolds, mignonettes, and thyme are also good companions for
roses.
When
you are deciding on companion plants for roses, check to see
when they bloom. Other characteristics, such as texture and
height, should also be
considered before deciding on your companion plants.
An
excellent book on companion planting is Roses Love Garlic by
Louise Riotte. Here's an interesting link about companion
planting.
Choosing
Your Plants
Choose hardy roses. Generally, old varieties of roses are the
hardiest. Try to pick roses that haven’t been grafted
onto a different root stock. Choose the colors you like. Bare-root
roses are less expensive than potted roses, but potted roses
are easier to plant and more likely to survive
Choose
flowers from the onion family, or other companion families that
will complement your roses. Once you have chosen your colors
and plants, and have decided how to arrange them and what your
rose garden will look like, you can dig in and begin working
with your soil.
Soil
Soil is the key to healthy and beautiful roses. Dig into your
rose plot in several places to see what the soil it is like.
Soil is seldom perfect. It may have too much clay, too much
sand, tons of rocks, or any of a dozen different problems. pH
is also important.
You
should test your soil pH. pH kits are available at nurseries
and over the internet. A good pH test kit is worth the expense
because inexpensive ones are often inaccurate. Most roses grow
well with a soil pH of 5.5 to 7, although a pH of 6.5 is ideal.
pH is a measure of acid-base balance and uses a scale of 1 to
14. 1 is extremely acid; 7 is neutral; and 14 is extremely basic
(alkaline). Few flowers will grow in a pH that is too acid or
too alkaline.
A
pH of 6.5 is the point where nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium,
plus trace minerals, are most easily available to your flowers.
Arid regions tend to have alkaline soils and regions with heavy
rainfall tend to have acidic soils.
How
Much To Water Roses
Roses like a lot of water during the growing and blooming season.
But this doesn't mean give them a small amount every day. Like
with watering other plants, it is better to water deeply rather
than just a little bit at a time, so that the water can fully
penetrate the roots. Just sprinkling them with the hose is not
enough.
Let
the hose give your roses a full, thorough soaking. A good four
or five gallons worth of water per rose bush is a basic rule
of thumb. Depending on how much rain your garden gets, a deep
watering once a week is usually enough even in drier parts of
the country. If it is extremely hot and dry, perhaps every four
days or so.
Avoid
watering during the heat of the day in direct sunlight. Early
morning and late afternoon are the best times to water.
The
Magic of Humus
If your soil is out of the correct pH range, you can change
it. This is where the magic of soil biology creates miracles.
Humus is the magic formula for most soil problems. Humus, which
you can create by composting with compost
bins, will help improve your soil pH. It will also improve
soil that is too sandy, has too much clay, or has other problems.
If
your soil is extremely acid, which can happen in an area with
heavy rainfall, or soil that has had overdoses of chemical N-P-K
fertilizer, you may need to add limestone to “sweeten”
the soil.
For
most other soil problems, humus is the answer. You may not have
humus available. If that is the case, don’t worry. We
will discuss how mulching can help your roses. For more information
on composting, see the Composting
Guide.
You
can create compost with plant clippings and other yard debris,
rather than throwing them away. They will provide you with a
continuous supply of humus in the future.
You
should be careful if you decide to purchase compost. Many compost
products are not fully composted and are still too ‘hot’
for your garden.
Organic
fertilizers should be added during the growing cycle. You
can even find special organic
rose fertilizer that is designed specifically with rose
gardening in mind.
Planting
Roses
It is best to plant your roses between spring and early summer
so that they have time to develop a root system before winter
sets in.
Roses
don’t like to be crowded, so give them enough room. Hybrid
teas, grandifloras, and floribundas should be planted 18 to
30 inches apart.
Climbers
should be planted 8 to 12 feet apart. Miniatures can be planted
approximately 12 to 15 inches apart.
If
you have container roses, make sure they have been watered and
keep them wet while working. Dig holes for your roses that are
2 ½ times the size of the root ball. It is a good idea
to put some well composted organic matter in the bottom of the
hole. Mix more composted matter with the soil that you removed,
but are planning to put back in the hole.
If
you don’t have composted matter available, you can substitute
a good quality planting mix. It is best to use planting mix
that doesn’t contain chemical fertilizers, although it
is sometimes difficult to find.
Take
the rose plant out of the container and put the rose plant in
the hole.
Pack the prepared dirt under and around the rose, making sure
that the dirt on the top of the rose root-ball is level with
the ground. It is a good idea to put a straight stick across
the hole to make sure the dirt level of the rose is the same
as the ground level. If your rose is planted above or below
ground level, it may have a difficult time growing properly.
Planting
bare-root roses is the same process, except that you must gently
pack the dirt around the roots. If you have a grafted rose,
you need to make sure that the graft union is a little bit below
ground level.
Purchasing
organic
rose fertilizer will insure that you have fertilizer to
add during the growing season, if you don't already have it
on hand at home.
Mulch
Mulching will help your roses after they are planted. Mulching
is the practice of adding plant material, such as leaves, dead
grass, or shredded bark on top of the soil. The plant material
will eventually be broken down and pulled into the soil by soil
denizens. It will become humus. Mulching also helps to retain
moisture in the soil. In a natural environment, leaves fall
to the ground and stay there. They act as mulch. For more information
on mulching, see the linked article at Clean Air Gardening.
Pruning
You will not need to prune your roses until next season. It
is best to prune just before the early spring growth appears,
which is March in most areas.
You can check with your local nurseries to find out what is
the best time in your area.
If
you are unfamiliar with pruning, it is best to watch a demonstration.
There are many articles and books that explain how to prune,
but a demonstration is worth ten thousand words. Do-it-yourself
television shows often give demonstrations. Nurseries and rose
clubs also sometimes give demonstrations.
Once
you see a demonstration, you will feel much more comfortable
with the idea of pruning.
For
basic tips on pruning roses, see the following links:
http://www.ars.org/explore.cfm/pruning/principles
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0201/rose_pruning.asp
Deadheading
If you have planted repeat-flowering roses, your rose bushes
will bloom more bountifully when you remove the spent blooms.
This is called deadheading.
Tips
Hybrid
tea roses or grandifloras are best for classical long stem roses,
but floribundas, shrubs, or climbing roses are a better choice
if you want your rose garden to bloom continually.
Climbers
on a trellis can create an amazing display of color or hide
an unsightly shed.
Roses
need well-drained soil. If you have clay, or other soil that
doesn’t drain, you may have to create a drain line or
plant your roses in a raised bed.
Don’t
forget mulch. Mulching around your roses and other plants will
make them very happy and reduce pathogen problems.
Purchase
hardy roses that are resistant to infestation. These are often
the older varieties. You will also find that sturdy varieties
vary from region to region. Check with local organic gardening
associations to find out what works best in your specific area
and under your specific conditions.
Instead
of planting your roses in even rows, you can stagger them. By
staggering them, you get more roses in a small space without
crowing them.
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