Our Top 20 Most-Asked Questions About Roses
"When will the roses begin to bloom?"
Floribunda, Hybrid Teas, and Shrub Roses will begin their blooming cycle around the last week of May. Climbers will bloom a little later and with less frequency in their first season, but are really at their best by the second year.
Roses can be planted in any location that meets the following requirements. First, they must receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. Second, there must be enough area to allow 18-24" of space around the plant for air circulation. Finally, the soil must drain well enough that water does not sit for periods of time around the plant.
Dig a hole just slightly larger than the pot the plant is currently in. Gently slide the rosebush out of the pot being careful not to break up the root ball. "Thick gloves will prevent you from getting jabbed by the thorns." Place the soil ball in the bottom of the hole and fill in the sides with good organic topsoil. Cover the top with a thick layer of topsoil followed by a 3-4" layer of good hardwood mulch. Water well.
"What is the difference between Hybrid Tea, Grandiflora, and Floribunda roses?"
Hybrid Tea roses are the most popular classification of roses. They are loved for their generally strong fragrances and their beautifully proportioned flowers which are available in a variety of colors. Hybrid Teas usually produce one spectacular flower per stem, from a long, pointed bud on plants from 3-5' tall. Generally the best roses for fresh cutting.
Grandiflora roses were originally introduced long after Hybrid Teas and Floribundas. In 1955 the rose 'Queen Elizabeth' was introduced that changed the classification system completely. They were bigger and hardier than the original Hybrid Teas, sometimes 8-10' tall, and bared flowers, usually double, on long stems, singly or in clusters.
Floribundas are known for their production of quantities of flowers in cluster of several to many flowers. They average only 2-3' tall and are relatively compact. Floribundas are especially valuable for their ability to adapt to a wide range of temperatures and soil conditions.
Many times the cause of multi-year rose not blooming is the simple act of over-fertilization. But, if when inspecting the plant you notice that all of the canes in the center of the plant have died and the predominant amount of growth originates from below the graft union then the plant has in our terms "Gone Wild." Often this is the cause of cold temperatures during the winter that froze the plant back to below the union. This allows the rootstock variety of the plant to produce suckers that quickly overtake any remaining selected variety. The plant will grow very fast but will bloom only once if at all. Under normal circumstances it is best to destroy the plant and start again. Lately several growers including ours have been reintroducing rose varieties with their own-root. These roses go by the trade name of New Generation Roses and can be found at our garden center starting in Spring 2003.
"Can I grow roses in containers?"
Yes, roses can be grown in containers. Miniature roses, small Floribundas and Shrub Roses are easiest, but even Hybrid Teas will do nicely. Make sure the pot is large enough to accommodate the size of the plant. These containerized roses need to be watered daily. The only real problem with potted roses is that the container must be moved into an unheated enclosure, shed or detached garage, during the winter and watered once every 3 weeks.
Simple dead-heading must be done at the end of each blooming cycle to encourage repeat blooming. This is done by making an angled cut at the first set of five leaflets. All dead-heading should be stopped in the first week of September. Against popular beliefs heavy pruning before the winter months is not a good practice. Any heavy pruning done in the fall keeps the plant from hardening off naturally before the cold of winter. If you prune in the fall you will have a much smaller chance of keeping your roses through the winter. Any heavy pruning should be done in the early spring by cutting all of the dead wood out of the plant, and cutting about 3" into the live green wood. This will allow the fast growth and quick blooming of your roses. A diagram is available here
"Why do some people use Epsom salts on their roses?"
Epsom salts, or magnesium sulfate, provides an important trace element. If you have just a few roses, you may want to buy it. Epsom salts promote stronger, sturdier stems, richer green foliage and deeper, richer colors in roses. The first year, use just a teaspoon or two in early spring. For mature bushes, use 1/2 cup. Though inexpensive, the same results can be achieved by fertilizing with a top quality organic fertilizer. We recommend Fertrell's Nitrell fertilizer.
"Is it possible to grow roses in the shade?"
Some roses grow reasonably well in partial shade but do not survive in deep shade. Though they will live, roses grown in the shade will produce fewer blooms and may grow more leggy. Winter hardiness is also seriously lessened.
"How much growth will my climbing roses put on in the first year?"
This will vary greatly by the vigor of the variety. Climbers will put forth between 3-8' of growth in the first year. The second year you will notice a marked improvement.
"Why are my roses more fragrant at certain times?"
Roses are often most fragrant in a warm, humid atmosphere, and just before a storm. Drought, extreme heat or very cool days diminish fragrance. Often roses which have good conditions but have been open for a longer amount of time also lose their fragrance. Rose scent also have a evanescent quality, diminishing as the day progresses.
Our roses, just like the majority of roses in the United States are grown in California.
"How much should I water my roses?"
Roses love being watered. But be careful not to over-do-it. Overwatering is the #1 killer of first season roses. Provide 1-2 inches of water a week per plant, but make sure you check the soil first to determine if the plant needs water. An empty tuna can can make a good gauge. You must water your roses at ground level to avoid wetting the leaves. Wetting the leaves during watering is the #1 cause of blackspot fungus. Watering in the mornings is best so that if you wet the leaves, they can evaporate quickly.
"How do I kill the Japanese beetles eating my roses?"
Currently there is no silver bullet for dealing with is mid-summer pest. The best control available is a combination of a weekly application of systemic insecticide, we recommend Orthene, and knocking the insects off by hand. Don't be fooled, beetle traps that claim instant protection do not work. The only thing that happens is the pheromones used to trap the beetles only attracts hundreds more to your yard.
"My rose is supposed to be fragrant, but it isn't. What's wrong?"
The sense of smell varies form person to person, just as the sense of taste varies. Some varieties provide a fragrance that everyone may smell and others may be more subjective.
The best way to keep these little pests from ruining your rose is to treat them with a systemic insecticide. We recommend Orthene or Isotox.
"The leaves on my rose are dying, many green ones have black spots on them. What's wrong?"
You are currently dealing with a very common fungus commonly called Blackspot. This occurs when you have warm dry days with cool moist nights. Luckily this disease will not kill your rose. You must first remove any of the dead or dying leaves from the area this includes the ones that have already fallen off. Second start a regular spraying cycle of fungicides. These fungicides are called Funginex and Daconil. Apply one every 5 weeks and apply the other on the 1st and 3rd weeks. This prevents the fungus from becoming immune to the chemical. Finally, apply a good nitrogen rich fertilizer to the soil and water. You should notice a marked improvement in a matter of weeks.
"What is Galbraith's guarantee on its roses?"
Any rose purchased at Galbraith's before August 1st that either dies or does not bloom has a full one time replacement guarantee, effective until August 1st of the year purchased. This does not cover roses killed by negligence or by acts of God. Any rose purchased at Galbraith's after August 1st has no guarantee.
"Do your roses ever go on sale?"
Yes, several times throughout the year our roses go on sale. We try to advertise these sales as best as we can. The best times to purchase sale items are major holidays and late in the summer. But remember, though the prices are lower the selection is also lower. In order to get the best selection you must purchase your roses in the early part of the season.
"Which rose is the easiest to grow?"
Over the last few years we have introduced several new types of roses that are easier to maintain and grow. But far and away the easiest roses to grow are the Shrub Rose classification. These super hardy roses do not require dead-heading or winter protection. You can treat these roses the same as you would a normal landscape shrub.