Posted on Tuesday, March 02, 2010 by admin in Learn |

Clair Martin offers the following advice for growing beautiful roses:

Where to Buy
You can buy a good rose just about anyplace today. I don’t often buy roses from the grocery store, but you can. If it doesn’t look fresh, don’t buy it. Even if it’s a dollar ninety-eight, it’s not worth it. You’ll be sorry in the long run, because it will probably die.

When to Buy
Buy in early spring. Most of the roses sold in the United States have been grown in California and were dug from October to December. The sooner you can plant a rose in the ground, the better it will fare.

What to Buy
Buy the best grade of rose you can. The garden centers make a big deal about selling only number one roses (the top grade). I would never plant a two, but most people can get by with a one and a half if they give a little bit of extra care. If the roses are not top grade, they will be labeled.

The ‘Lillian Austin’ is named after David Austin’s mother.

What to Look For
The rose you buy should have three strong canes and a large root system. The canes need to be firm and crisp. If they look wrinkled or dried, or they’re turning brown, then I would be worried about that.

Most Common Mistake
Most people don’t realize that roses are very much full-sun plants. We start out with every good intention and plant them out in full sun. But as gardens grow, trees get larger, the plant matures, and the space for sunlight reduces. It’s really important that you give roses eight hours of sun a day or more. Once you get down below four to six hours, you’re going to have probably fifty percent less flower production. I probably wouldn’t try a rose if there is less than four hours of sun.