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Training Roses

Container Roses

Old roses are a delight to use in the landscape and generally quite easy to train and maintain. Remember to choose your roses to fit your space,leaving plenty of elbow room for large varieties. The following tips will help you achieve special effects with your garden roses. Climbing roses need support whether they are placed against a wall, fence, or trellis. On a trellis, this is achieved by attaching the fanned-out canes to the openwork. This both supports the rose and increases the flowering potential, since a rose cane drawn out horizontally will bloom more heavily than one that shoots straight up. The same effect can be created by fastening the canes of a climbing rose to the links of a chain link fence or to staples driven into a wall or privacy fence. We recommend using gardener’s stretch ties, as they expand with the growth of the rose cane. Another way to train a climbing rose is to wrap or braid it around a tall post,creating a pillar rose. Once again, fencing staples or nails can be used with stretch tie to secure the cane.When the rose reaches the top of the post, it can either be trained further along a wire or over an arch, or allowed to cascade outward in an “umbrella”

Container roses are a versatile and reward- ing landscape option, and almost any rose can be grown this way if the container is large enough. A pot about 7 gallons in size will give the rose roots some room and is still fairly easy to lift and move. It’s best to match the shape of the rose bush to the shape of the container. Pots of roses can be grouped together or mixed with contain- ers of perennials to provide the colorful effect of a hedge or a flower border. Large containers can be stacked to provide a multi-level effect. Some climbing roses can even be used.They may not reach their full size, but they can still make a graceful accent for a balcony railing or patio wall. Remember to use containers that have proper drainage and a soil mixture that is rich and drains well.Peat moss and composted manure mixed with sand and top soil or a good potting soil will provide a healthy base. Slow-release fertilizers such as Osmocote can cut down on maintenance. Roses in containers usually need water more often than those in the ground. Make sure your plants don’t get water-stressed.

fashion. A true pillar rose is simply a more moder- ate climber that can be trained up a post, without any loose ends at the top. Arches, pillars, trellises, fences, or gazebos, however a climbing rose is displayed, it will add height and depth to the garden and will soften and decorate the hard angles of walls and buildings.

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1-800-441-0002 www.weAREroses.com