HARDINESS ZONE MAP

 

Welcome to the World of Rose Gardening or Rose Gardening World.  Take time and smell the roses.  Roses have been around for millions of years which just prove that roses are not difficult to grow. The Rose is also our National Floral Emblem and the state flower of several states.  Here at Rose Gardening World, you’ll find rose articles that will educate you about roses – its history, rose culture, rose profiles and even rose verses all in one place.  So visit Rose Gardening World often. 

With the climate changes, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Plant Hardiness Zone Map is not at all reliable.

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map was revised in 1990 and as every gardener knows, there is a warming trend marching northward throughout the country.  The American Horticultural Society revised the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map in 2003 at the request of USDA but when submitted, the USDA rejected it because there was such a dramatic change in the climatic condition as compared to the 1990 map.  The USDA decided they will do a change based on 30 years data.  But averaging the data for such a long period of time will not reflect the recent warming phenomenon.  By doing this, it will also decrease the liability for the nursery crop insurance program.  It is interesting to know that the USDA Risk Management Agency operates in partnership with the private insurance companies. 

Meanwhile, the National Arbor Day Foundation issued its own Hardiness Zone Map in 2006 which is a better guide for us gardeners because it is based on data from 1990 to 2004.  

Visit my website 

PUTTING YOUR ROSES TO BED FOR THE WINTER

Welcome to the World of Rose Gardening or Rose Gardening World.  Take time and smell the roses.  Roses have been around for millions of years which just prove that roses are not difficult to grow. The Rose is also our National Floral Emblem and the state flower of several states.  Here at Rose Gardening World, you’ll find rose articles that will educate you about roses – its history, rose culture, rose profiles and even rose verses all in one place.  So visit Rose Gardening World often. 

Now that Thanksgiving is over, we can certainly say winter is coming soon if not here already.  If you haven’t tucked your roses to bed, now it’s prime time to start protecting your roses for the winter.

Don't prune your roses at this time, unless there is a concern that canes and branches could be broken when loaded with snow.  Heavy pruning should be done in spring.  The only thing you have to do is cut those very long stem so they don’t whip in the wind which causes the heaving of soil around the rose bush exposing the root system.

Before you put your hose away for the winter, give your rose a good soaking.  Do not let your roses go to bed thirsty.  

Apply a dormant spray such as lime sulfur and/or spray oil. This will kill pests and fungal diseases that might try to overwinter on the plant or surrounding soil.  Rake leaves from around your plants to prevent the spread of diseases.

Protection is usually not necessary, but roses can benefit from applying mulch over the crown area if a cold winter is forecasted.  Cover the bud union with a mound of soil about 6" high, then cover the plants and mound with straw. In areas where winter temperatures are below 10°F., remove any stakes on tree roses and gently dig away soil on one side. Bend your tree rose downward to the ground and cover it with straw first, then soil.  For climbers, cover the base of your climbers with soil. Tie the canes and wrap them in burlap. For severe-winter areas, anchor the canes to the ground and cover them with straw.

While you are making the final inspection, check which roses did not do well.  Decide on whether to give it another chance or shovel prune it.  Then it is time to browse through those catalogs and order the rose plants for next spring.

 Visit my website

TAKE A SOIL TEST BEFORE WINTER SETS IN

Welcome to the World of Rose Gardening or Rose Gardening World.  Take time and smell the roses.  Roses have been around for millions of years which just prove that roses are not difficult to grow. The Rose is also our National Floral Emblem and the state flower of several states.  Here at Rose Gardening World, you’ll find rose articles that will educate you about roses – its history, rose culture, rose profiles and even rose verses all in one place.  So visit Rose Gardening World often. 

Fall is the best time to adjust your garden soil’s pH.  If you haven’t done a soil test, do it now before the winter sets in.  If you are really serious of growing the best roses, testing your soil pH is very important. 

What is pH?  pH is the symbol of the degree of acidity or alkalinity of the soil ranging from 0 to 14.  Soil with a pH of 7 is considered neutral.  The lower the pH, the more acidic the soil; the higher the pH indicates alkalinity.

Roses prefer a slightly acidic soil of 6-6.5.  This is the range where most of the mineral elements are at maximum availability to our roses.  You can have the best, most friable soil that drains excess water away and plenty of nutrients but if your soil’s pH is not within the required range, none of those will be available to your roses.  The addition of limestone will increase alkalinity and sulphur will increase acidity, if necessary.  

Collect soil samples from four different areas of your garden, put them in a zip-lock bags and label them.  Bring them to the nearby Cooperative Extension Service.  A soil test will show you the pH, ability to absorb water and nutrients, whether you are under or over fertilizing, what nutrients are lacking and how to correct these deficiencies.  Once you correct these problems, your roses will be happy and so will you, the rose gardener.

Visit my website 

Will there be a shortage of roses in 2012?

Welcome to the World of Rose Gardening or Rose Gardening World.  Take time and smell the roses.  Roses have been around for millions of years which just prove that roses are not difficult to grow. The Rose is also our National Floral Emblem and the state flower of several states.  Here at Rose Gardening World, you’ll find rose articles that will educate you about roses – its history, rose culture, rose profiles and even rose verses all in one place.  So visit Rose Gardening World often. 

A lot of rose suppliers are in trouble due partly to the financial crisis we are experiencing now which can be partly blamed for people diminishing interest in gardening.  When you are losing jobs or your home due to foreclosure, gardening takes a back seat.  Several rose suppliers closed doors recently and it is not a good sign.  

As of May 26, 2011, Weeks’ Roses was obtained by Gardens Alive.  Most people have not even heard of Gardens Alive and yet it is one of the nation’s largest mail order conglomerates.  I have been a customer of Gardens Alive for years since they are a great source of environmentally friendly products.  They have organic stuffs which you can’t get anywhere.   They own several business outlets.  Keith Zary, formerly of Jackson & Perkins, is already employed there in a plant research capacity.  Weeks’ Roses now has 3 prominent hybridizers in-house – Tom Carruth, Christian Bedard and Keith Zary.  

From what I heard on the rose grapevine, Jackson and Perkins did not plant any roses for 2012 season.   So that is one big supplier that has limited supply of roses to the gardeners and garden centers alike.  So you ask yourself what to do.   Help support the rose industry by buying roses for your garden.    Rose is one plant that blooms all season long unlike most perennials that only bloom once.   Plant roses and ask your friends to do the same.  More importantly place your order early to get the best selections.

Visit my website