Celebrate the Rose

Celebrate the Rose

As we mature, our lives take on different meaning. We become more attune to our surroundings and our appreciation for life changes. Some of us might continue to challenge the status quo, while others become steeped in tradition. I think gardening helps us discover which path our heart desires.

Specifically, I think growing roses hold us in a more traditional mindset.

Bee in a sunflower

Think back to the plants your grandmother grew.  Geraniums, Zinnias, Sunflowers, and Roses... gorgeous roses! These coveted memories of our grandmothers' garden roses become the impetus to carry on a desire to have beautiful roses just like she had.

The classic favorites are timeless and they have become the gold standard in our rose gardens. We speak of them as we would an old friend for they've become a permanent part of our collection. When these roses have finally become tired and less productive, we hold onto them for as long as possible until we can no longer fight the good fight. Eventually we give in to their aged status and decide to finally replace them. We ceremoniously dig them up and give them a proper burial. We ruefully scour the catalogs for suitable replacements thinking maybe this is the year we will "try something different."

But wait! What delightful new surprises grace the catalogs filling my mailbox!  

Suddenly, the desire to act with predictable decision making is uncontrollably thrown out the window.

Climbing Westerland

I regularly pay close attention to what comes out of the breeding program at Weeks Roses. The roses rarely fail to impress me. The new Climbing Above All™ is one that I'm excited to see because it's being promoted as a modern version of the Climbing Westerland. Having blooms as salmon-orange as it's predecessor but with a higher petal count and greater flower production.

Another rose that has piqued my interest is called Anna's Promise™.  

Named for Anna, a character in the British television show Downton Abby, it apparently symbolized the heart and integrity of her personality. There are golden petals blushed in pink with a bronze reverse which look absolutely stunning. It boasts a spicy, fruit fragrance to boot. Sounds delish... is this a rose or a new dessert?

The Wake Forest University Rose

In its parentage is About Face™, which I have always admired. Its glossy green leaves have never looked worn or faded and the growth always seems to be strong and vigorous. Good as Gold™ (a 2014 Introduction) come from About Face™ and has been an impressive hybrid tea so far this year.

Another new introduction from About Face™ that we are quite proud of here at Witherspoon is The Wake Forest University Rose. 

This grandiflora has good disease resistance and a light apple fragrance on golden blossoms that deepen with cooler temperatures. We are honored to have a hand in producing and promoting this exclusive rose to the market with $10 from every sale going to the general scholarship fund and Wake Forest University.

Peace

I feel like this article would not be complete unless I mentioned some of the old favorites. These roses are tried and true, so we go to them time and time again. Peace is for sure one of those on my list. And, let's be honest, so are the others in the Peace family. I believe the Peace rose is one hybrid that will remain in the hearts of rose lovers across the country. To add to this list, I would include Queen Elizabeth. This tall, pink beauty blooms in clusters and is a sight to behold! Did I mention she's nearly thornless? Certainly my list is not complete without mentioning Tiffany. How can you not love the tall pointed buds?

These roses were introduced around the 1950's when America was full of high spirit and optimism after World War II. The garden was a victory, family togetherness was time well spent and roses were in the hearts and yards of smiling gardeners.

Queen Elizabeth

Sincerely,

Sandie  

Aphids: Vampires of the Plant World

What Are Aphids?

Aphids are small, soft bodied insects that feed on plant sap.  These sap suckers can be green, brown, black, or even pink, but regardless of their color they are all after the same thing. I know you are thinking to yourself, how much damage could these little guys do? Large colonies of aphids sucking sap from the rose bush cells will cause blooms to become deformed and they will not open properly. Unfortunately these vampires of the plant world are not deterred by garlic wreaths or wooden stakes, so let's explore what the home rose gardener should do to protect their blooms.

Use a Slow Release Fertilizer

Aphids are heavy nitrogen feeders.  This turns well fertilized plants, such as roses, into a well-stocked buffet line for sap sucking insects. In order to fertilize rose bushes without providing a large meal for aphids, we need to feed the bush with a slow release fertilizer.  Quick release fertilizers will push a large amount of nitrogen into the bush quickly making it a tasty treat for aphids.

Invite Beneficial Insects to the Party

Ladybugs, Green Lacewings, and Pirate Bugs will all enjoy feasting on your Aphid population, but they tend to be fashionably late to the party. They show up after the Aphid population has already exploded in the garden. In order to encourage the beneficial insects to show up earlier, we need to create a welcoming environment before the Aphids take over. Here is a quick list of companion plants that will encourage these beneficial insects to to make your garden a home.

Ladybugs Common Yarrow Ajuga Marigold Dill

Green Lacewings Fern Leaf Yarrow Dandelion Golden Marguerite Coriander

Pirate Bugs Corn Soybeans Grapes Alfalfa

Water Hose Riot Control

I know this seems counterproductive for rose care, but spraying the colonies of Aphids off the rose bush with a garden hose is a simple cost effective way to get rid of Aphids.  You get the same effect with a spray bottle set to the stream function to blast those buggers off the bush. Make sure you keep up with your fungicide application if you go this route and it is also a good idea to do this in the morning so the rose bushes have the rest of the day to dry.

Last Resort Insecticidal Soap

Aphids have soft bodies that have openings called spiracles that they use for respiration.  Insecticidal soaps work by covering these openings and suffocating the Aphids.  It only takes an hour to work, but it might take multiple applications to get the problem under control as it only works when the soap makes contact with the Aphid.  The residue left by the insecticidal soap is non-toxic so it is safe for local wildlife.

Helpful Hints

Thistle, Mustard Plant, and Milkweed will only encourage Aphids to populate a garden. Keeping a rose garden clear of these weeds will help control the Aphid population as well as other problem insects.

Spider Mites:  A Mite-y Problem

Mites are the third member of the team that is out to get your garden (fungus, insects, mites).  These critters are a difficult problem once they are established, but there are steps that can be taken to ensure they don't get comfortable in the rose garden. The mite that we deal with most often is the Two Spotted Spider Mite.  Spider Mites are in the arachnid family and are almost invisible to the naked eye. They can easily be seen with a magnifying glass and unfortunately the results of their feeding on your roses can be seen easily with the naked eye.

Spider Mite Symptoms

	Generally leaves will lose their brilliant green color and become faded and brown.  You can often see their webbing on the underside of the leaves.
	The underside of the leaves will also look dusty because of the dirt and debris that get caught in their webs.

What Can I Do?

1.	Keep the roses watered - The best way to avoid any issue is to keep your roses healthy.  In the heat of the summer rose bushes need 5 gallons of water per plant per week.  Well watered buses will be able to handle any stress, including Spider Mites, better than thirsty plants.
2.	Use your hose - If you check the bottom of the leaves and see that you are beginning to get spider mites, spray the tops and bottoms of the leaves with your hose.  I know this seems counter-intuitive because leaves are supposed to be dry as much as possible, but the spray from the hose knocks the Spider Mites off the bush and they cannot crawl back on.  Make sure to do this in the morning so the bush can dry off and keep up with your fungicide application.
3.	Miticides - There are several miticides that are available to homeowners to help control mite problems.  Products such as Avid, Neem Oil, and pyrethrin based sprays are effective to reduce the spider mite colonies.  These should be used in conjunction with the steps listed above for greatest effect.

Keep in mind that if your garden is next to brick or surrounded by rock or concrete you may have more mite difficulties.  These surfaces hold heat well causing a very warm microclimate that mites love.  Wash down these surfaces with water as much as possible. Spider Mites can cause you major headaches in your rose garden.  However, with a little bit of diligence and a lot of vigilance you can keep them out and keep your roses beautiful.

Help!! There Are Holes in My Roses!

Budworms:  This Bud is NOT For You

What is a budworm? You will know the damage when you see it.  If your buds and blooms are full of holes, you have been visited by budworms. These critters can damage a whole lot of blooms in a short time so it is important to learn a little more about them and how we can rid our roses of them.   The budworms that attack our roses are actually called tobacco budworms or Heliothis virescens.  They overwinter in the south, but they can spread as far north as New England during the summer.  Adult budworms are moths that are tan or brown in color with three darker stripes across their wings and they are about 1 inch in length. The eggs are deposited on, in, or under the buds and blooms and they take 2-3 days to hatch. Once they emerge they eat their way through as many blooms as they can.  When they have had their fill they make their way down into the soil where they go through their pupal stage to emerge as moths about 22 days later.  Warm temperatures speed up some of these processes.  Now that we know what they are, let's take a look at some contol measures.

1.	Cut Your Blooms - Since the adult moths use buds and terminal growth to lay their eggs, everytime you cut your roses you are removing a possible incubation site.  It is also important to remove "blind shoots" as they can also be a good incubation spot.
2.	Keep Spraying - Although it is difficult to get spray to the budworms inside the bud, it is important to keep spraying. If they emerge from the bud and eat the tissue that has been sprayed you will have one less adult moth in your garden. Bacillus Thuringiensis or Bt as found in products such as "Thuricide" from Hi Yield is a great biological control that works on caterpillars including budworms.
3.	Help the Good Guys - There are many insects and spiders that feed on budworms.  Avoiding broad spectrum insecticides such as Sevin will help keep the beneficial insects in your garden.  It is also a great idea to encourage birds to visit your garden because they will eat the moths and caterpillars that are causing damage to your roses.

Budworms can be difficult to control but by following good gardening practices and encouraging nature to give you a hand, you can keep them from turning every rose in your garden into swiss cheese.  Your buds are for you to enjoy, not for the budworms.

February Pruning Checklist

Are You Ready for Pruning Season? 

February is the time to prune rose bushes.  Pruning a rose bush prepares it for the next growing season by focusing the plant's energy into the strongest canes.  By cutting out the diseased, dead, or weak canes, you are giving the rose bush a healthy foundation for new growth.  Make sure you have the proper tools before starting and print off our pruning checklist at the end of this article to help guide you through the process.  Happy pruning!

What Do I Need to Prune?

1.  Make sure your pruners are up to the task Before you even step outside, make sure your pruners are free of rust and burrs.  Sharpen them with a tool sharpener and clean off the rust with a multi-purpose lubrication oil.  If your pruners have been neglected for a few seasons, you may need to replace the blade or get them professionally cleaned and sharpened at Witherspoon.  By keeping your pruners sharpened you will put less strain on you body and reduce the risk of accidents.  Most pruning accidents happen when the gardener is fighting the tool.  Make your pruners work for you and stay safe by keeping them properly sharpened!

2.  Protect your hands and arms by wearing gauntlet gloves Rose gardeners know that you will occasionally have to pull a thorn or two or a millon out of your hands and arms legs body etc.  However, there are gloves out there that will make pruning season easier on your hands and arms.  Gauntlet gloves not only protect your hands, but they also cover your forearms.  Trust me, when you are reaching into the center of your Falling in Love rose bush to prune out the center, you will want gauntlet gloves!

3.  Have a place for your clippings to go Imagine this scenario.  You have just pruned your entire rose garden only to turn around and see piles of thorny clippings waiting to be picked up and hauled away.  If only you had thought to contain the clippings as you go!  Having a heavy duty waste bag will save you from the heartache of cleaning up an entire gardens worth of clippings from off the ground.

4.  Heal and protect your hands and cuticles It is easy to forget how much we use our hands until we are painfully reminded with cracked skin and sore cuticles.  Make your life easier by taking care of your hands!  Use a healing salve or lotion to keep your skin moisterized and healthy during the cold, dry winter months.

5.  Witherspoon's Pruning Checklist  Now that you have everything you need to prune your roses, make sure you know how to prune like a pro!  We have compiled a checklist of everything you need to know about pruning your roses.  Print out this handy checklist and take it with you as a guide!

Click Here to Print Witherspoon's Free Pruning Checklist! 

Do you want some hands on experience pruning roses BEFORE you prune your own garden?

Come to one of Witherspoon's FREE Pruning Classes!

 February 15th - 20th - 22nd

@10am

Classes Held at BOTH Locations - Click Here for Directions