Roses in a Small Garden

Roses in a Small Garden

By Christine Moore

President, CRS

 

It was Monday the sixth of June. I remember the date well because on the previous day I had been selected by the Board of the Canadian Rose Society to be their next President. Standing in line at Canadian Tire I was pondering how best to let people know the benefits of joining the society and thereby attract new members. A voice next to me interrupted my thoughts. “Do you know anything about roses?” she asked.

 

When I was first captivated by roses, I do not know. Perhaps it was the orange Hybrid Tea ‘Tropicana’ growing in my aunt’s garden that seduced me but honestly I cannot tell you. I have always loved roses. I do remember, as a young teen, planting roses in our shady garden and that, my first rose garden, was a total failure.

 

Years passed. A milestone birthday and a chance for reflection approached. I had been very involved showing and breeding horses and I could see that part of my life drawing to an end. The horses had given me goals, direction and friends with similar interests. What could take their place?

 

I decided this would be a good time to learn more about roses. As luck would have it, the first Canada Blooms Garden Show was held in Toronto and it was there I joined the Canadian Rose Society. From their information I learned of the Greater Toronto Rose & Garden Society and joined them.

 

In those days, having a rose bush survive and produce more than a few blooms seemed to be mostly luck for me. At society meetings I learned that some roses are more difficult to grow than others. I learned it was important to purchase roses grafted onto Rosa multiflora rootstock, as it is the hardiest for my southern Ontario garden. Members shared their favorite places to purchase roses and gradually I had a rose garden!

 

I discovered David Austin Roses. Produced in England, Austin developed roses in romantic colors, with an old fashioned appearance and fragrance. His roses have nearly any scent you can imagine; cinnamon, apple, citrus, rose, apricot and even myrrh. 

 

I learned that caring for my roses is quite simple: start with good soil in a sunny location and be ready to provide water when necessary. Stay away from varieties prone to disease and don’t worry too much about losing a few leaves. At rose meetings, a common question is “What should I feed my roses?” Most of our members use a granular fertilizer at the beginning of May, June and July. Some begin the season with a fertilizer a little higher in nitrogen to help get the leaves growing and then switch to a 6-12-12 or 8-10-10 for the next two feedings. Fertilizing stops after August. The rose will soon have to lose its leaves and go dormant for the winter. Late fertilizing can produce weak growth that will not survive and only drain your plant of the energy it needs to get ready for winter.

 

However, feeding roses is more than adding fertilizer. You need good soil and that means adding organic matter; compost, leaves, alfalfa cubes or pellets, composted manure. These encourage a healthy population of microorganisms. You need lots of them in your soil because they help the nutrients become available to your plants. Think of it like this: All the organisms living in your soil will feed your roses if you feed the organisms.

 

Taking part in society activities, I have made wonderful friends. They share their knowledge and sometimes they share some extra perennial plants. I am usually surprised how many other things I have in common with gardeners; pets, reading, travel, ballet and art. 

 

As an active society board member I have been fortunate to meet visiting rosarians and even had the pleasure of spending a lovely day with two members from the German Kordes nursery and spent time alone with one of the top rose breeders in the world from France when I met him at the airport. I have served on the board of my local society for 10 years and on the board of the Canadian Rose Society for several. 

 

My garden today has an international flavor. There are English Austin roses, some bred in Germany by Kordes Roses, some American bred roses and of course Canadian bred roses. 

 

I look forward to hearing about your rose gardens.