Friday, March 2, 2012

FRAGRANT CLOUD

Photo by Stan Griep from ARS website
Registered Name – TANellis
Syns. Duftwolke, Nuage Parfume
Tantau, Germany, 1967
Seedling x ‘Prima Ballerina’

Fragrant Cloud rose has extremely fragrant blooms and constantly winning at rose shows across the country for its fragrance.  The flowers are an unusual coral-red maturing to geranium red with 30 petals and exhibition-style blooms.  The high-centered blooms are borne mostly singly, averaging 5” in diameter on a vigorous upright plant of 3-5 ft in height and 2 ft in width.  The large foliage is a rich, glossy dark green on a vigorous bush that is very prolific.  I had Fragrant Cloud rose in my first garden in the early ‘70s and then again it was one of the first roses that were planted when we bought our next home in the ‘80s.  After 30 years, it was still there when we left. 

Fragrant Cloud rose is an excellent rose for bedding and for borders and cut flower.  It is very susceptible to mildew in autumn and black spot during damp weather.  Inspite of those problems, it still remains as one of the most popular roses in the market because of its intense fragrance.  There is a climbing Fragrant Cloud propagated by Collin & Sons in England in 1973.  It also has that unique coral-red bloom on the long canes, covered with dark, reddish green foliage.  The climbing version can reach a height of 12 ft.  Fragrant Cloud climbing rose can produce very fragrant blooms during the summer only. 

Fragrant Cloud rose has won the National Rose Society President’s International Trophy in 1964, Portland Gold Medal in 1966, American Rose Society James Alexander Gamble for Fragrance Award in 1970 and World Favorite Rose in 1981 and still winning awards today for fragrance.

Roses are easy plants to grow contrary to popular belief. Why do you think Roses have been around for millions of years?  All they need are food, water and sunlight.  Just like you and me. We want to help you grow Beautiful Roses!

Here at Rose Gardening World, we’ll educate you about the Rose - our National Floral Emblem and the state flower of several states.  Welcome to Rose Gardening World where Rose Gardening Tips, Rose Growing Advice, Planning a Rose Garden, Rose Descriptions, Where to Buy Roses, Where to see Rose Gardens, Rose Culture, Rose History, Roses in Art, Rose Events, Rose Verses are all here in one place. So, plant a rose today! 

We are constantly updating our contents so visit Rose Gardening World often and be a follower.  We welcome comments.  Take time and smell the roses.  Happy Rose Gardening!

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Thursday, March 1, 2012

EARLY SPRING ROSE CARE


After you are done pruning your roses, remove all leaves and clean the garden of old, diseased leaves. They are the depository of blackspot spores and mildew. I don’t use fungicides or insecticides, but I do spray with dormant oil. I use Pyola Oil from Gardens Alive. It seems to work and I don’t have much blackspot. Aphids should be coming in droves pretty soon.  They can be removed with a sharp spray of water from your garden hose. Ladybugs also do a good job getting rid of aphids. Beneficial nematodes sprayed on your lawn will kill the grubs which later on become the destructive Japanese beetles.  Gardens Alive is also a good source for ladybugs and beneficial nematodes.

Then it is time to feed the roses.  If you have not put down Epsom Salt yet, don’t wait any longer.  Go to the pharmacy and get some.  It now comes in big bags as well as those cardboard boxes.   I watch the weather forecast and do it before it rains so I don’t have to water after application.  Why Epsom Salt, you might ask? If you read the label on the box, it says Magnesium Sulfate. For gardeners, Magnesium Sulfate is a trace element that plants need to encourage new growth, promote greener leaves and better blooms.  A handful for Hybrid Teas and other big flowered roses will suffice and Miniature roses get half the dosage.

I also scatter granular fertilizer around the roses now and I will put more compost in the garden beds.  Compost is an excellent source of nutrients for the plant and it also stabilizes the soil content whether the soil is alkaline or acidic.  

Roses are heavy feeders.  Some rosarians fertilize with a cup of 10-20-10 or 12-24-12 granular fertilizer spread evenly around the rose bush. Other rosarians add a cup or two of alfalfa meal. I use a granular fertilizer first and I put down Mills Magic Rose Mix about 2 weeks later.  Aside from granular fertilizer, I also give them liquid fertilizer, which I begin after placing Mills Magic. You can use any fertilizer that works for you. I will try anything that’s inexpensive. You don’t have to dig them in. I just spread it on top of the mulch and let nature take care of it. Watch the weather forecast and spread it before it rains. It’s a lazy man’s way but it works and it saves my back.

Last thing to do is mulch. If you have mulch there already, add more but stir the old mulch first. Some mulch packs down and has to be stirred a bit for better water penetration. Mulch keeps the bed moist and controls the weeds.  With mulch in place, I do not have to worry about weeds for awhile.  Years ago, I never used mulch because I wanted to see the soil around the rose beds.  Now with the passing years, I find I have less time to garden or maybe I’m slowing down and it takes more time to do garden work.  I used to weed a lot but with mulch, I don’t have to do as much weeding as before.  Nowadays, I can relax a little bit after I finish the last bed. 

Roses are easy plants to grow contrary to popular belief. Why do you think Roses have been around for millions of years?  All they need are food, water and sunlight.  Just like you and me. We want to help you grow Beautiful Roses!

Here at Rose Gardening World, we’ll educate you about the Rose - our National Floral Emblem and the state flower of several states.  Welcome to Rose Gardening World where Rose Gardening Tips, Rose Growing Advice, Planning a Rose Garden, Rose Descriptions, Where to Buy Roses, Where to see Rose Gardens, Rose Culture, Rose History, Roses in Art, Rose Events, Rose Verses are all here in one place. So, plant a rose today! 

We are constantly updating our contents so visit Rose Gardening World often and be a follower.  We welcome comments.  Take time and smell the roses.  Happy Rose Gardening!

Check my other blogs:
Visit my website


at No comments:
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Epsom Salt and Its Role in the Rose Garden

Epsom Salt or Magnesium Sulfate is a chemical compound made up of magn...