Loose, open shrubs carrying charming flowers, then hung with edible hips once autumn comes: the toughest roses ask remarkably little. Botanical and heirloom sorts are pruned much as you would any other shrub, and the one thing that decides success is room — give them air and sun, and disease rarely takes hold.
If you feel this is your situation, follow these tips!
Choosing rose tree varieties that resist diseases
In the big rose tree family, certain cultivars are more hardy than others. For example, this is the case of most botanical and heirloom roses. Botanical roses are genetically close to wild rose trees, they are very resistant, bear charming flowers, and are covered with edible fruits come fall. For instance, try out the gallica rose.
Old roses or heirloom roses are hybrids of botanical varieties such as the gallica rose, the Damascus rose, the centifolia rose, etc. They grow into loosely standing shrubs. They are very easy to grow and pruning them is similar to the pruning of any other shrub. Rambler or vine rose trees, that can grow over 30 feet (10 meters) tall, are another option.
The article points to three groups of roses that ask little of the gardener. Here is what separates them before you choose.
| Rose type | Size and habit | Why it is easy | Extra appeal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botanical (species) roses, such as the gallica rose | Close to wild roses in habit | Very resistant | Charming flowers, then edible fruits in autumn |
| Old or heirloom roses | Loosely standing shrubs | Pruned just like any other shrub | Hybrids of gallica, Damascus and centifolia roses |
| Rambler or vine roses | Over 30 feet (10 metres) tall | Another straightforward option | Height, where there is room for it |
Whichever group you pick, careful planting and spacing does the rest.
Choose quality rose trees, preferably with bare roots, and plant them when they are in dormancy from November to March. Careful planting is important to ensure proper regrowth. Plant your rose tree in a hole 16 inches (40 cm) wide and deep, which allows for proper spreading of the roots. Remember to remove rocks and weeds from the soil.
Before planting, cut back the roots and branches of the plant to 12 inches (30 cm). Apply root dip to the roots, prepared from one third soil, one third well-decomposed compost, and one third rain water.
Stay true to plant spacing recommendations mentioned for each species (at least 32 inches (80 cm)): rose trees need air and sun to grow well.
Preventive organic treatments help reduce chance of disease in that the plants are reinforced.
They are particularly applicable in case of stormy, wet and moist weather, to avoid fungal diseases such as rust, black spot disease or powdery mildew.
Spray your roses with fermented nettle, comfrey, or horsetail tea or marine seaweed extract.
Laure Hamann
