Roses

Roses may or may not do well in the desert landscape, it depends where they are planted and the type of care they receive.

There are many different varieties, colors, sizes and growth habits vary widely. The main categories are bush roses, climbing roses and miniature roses. Most require full sun to partial shade, flowering best in full sun, however watering must be consistent. Remove old flowers regularly (dead-heading) to promote new roses. Roses are heavy feeders, so feed regularly.

Floribunda roses, latin for "many-flowering", were develoed by crossing hybrid teas with the wild rose Rosa multiflora. They are smaller and bushier than the average hybrid tea. Nice bushes with lots of flowers and you will have quite a job keeping up with flower removal.

Hyprid tea roses are well-formed with large, high-centered buds and long, straight, upright stems. Hybrid tea roses are great for use as cut-flowers and it is much easier to remove dead flowers, as they are single roses and therefore there are fewer of them.

Climbing roses are another choice and they can be very beautiful tied to a trellis or fence

Miniature roses are very small and do well in containers, but should be protected from the winter cold.

Plant roses in well drained, fertile soil, preferably in the full sun and not in rocks. Rocks tend to radiate heat and roses don't like that. Mulch the rose bed with bark to prevent weeds and hold in moisture.

Please check out our Rose Garden for rose seeds, rose plants, rose fertilizer and more interesting rose stuff.

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