Archive for category: Floral

Hot Seasonal Color Combinations:

1.         Alabama Coleus (Yellow and Rust Red)

            Red leaf, Red Begonia

            Alternanthera gold or Duranta gold

2.         Purple Salvia

            Rose color Begonia or Zinnia Profusion Cherry

3.         Red Begonia

            Purple Scaevola (Fanflower)

4.         Orange Zinnia

            Purple Setcresia

Cool Seasonal Color Combinations:

1.         Pink Penta

             Lilac Verbena

             Lilac Wave Petunia

2.         Pink Penta

                Blue Hawaii Ageratum

                Victoria Blue Salvia

3.         Dusty Miller

                 Any Pink Flower

Bright Colors:

1.         Victoria Blue Salvia

            Green leaf, Red Begonia

            Alternanthera gold or Duranta gold

2.         Victoria Blue Salvia

            Purple Verbena or Purple Wave Petunia

            Gold Coleus or Alternanthera gold or Duranta gold

3.         Victoria Blue Salvia

            Pink Begonia

            Purple Verbena or Purple Wave Petunia

European Style Window Boxes:

1.        Red Geranium

           Purple Scaevola

           Red Verbena

           Purple Wave Petunia

          Gold Lantana

          Variegated Ivy or Chartreuse Sweet Potato Vine

2.        Pink Geranium

           Pink Mandevilla Vine

          Asparagus Fern

          Purple Wave Petunia

          White Bacopa

 Containers:

1.         Blue Plumbago

            Red Verbena

            Purple Wave Petunia

            Variegated Ivy

            Asparagus Fern

2.         Red Fountain Grass

            Blue Hawaii Ageratum

            Pink Verbena

            Golden Oregano or Creeping Golden Thyme

What does low maintenance mean?

Rose Gardening Basics

How to make a selection

• Growth Habit – Will it grow into a  shrub, climber, groundcover or tree form? Would you like to hide an ugly area with a large 6’ shrub form or do you just want a small 3’-4’ rose to accent your garden? Maybe you only have room for a container size rose.
• Hardiness- Will it survive our hot and humid weather here in Atlanta (zone7,7b)?
• Bloom Time- Will it bloom for a few weeks or all summer long?
• Disease Resistance- Does it have a moderate to high disease resistance rating? A higher resistance rating translates into less chemicals, less expense and less time in maintenance.
• Stem Length- Would you like a rose with long stems or short stems with clusters of flowers? Each will have a different presence in the landscape or as a cut flower.

Planting:

• Dig your planting hole at least 2 times wider than the container and 14” to 18” deep.   Amend the soil if you are planting in our native clay soil.   To provide good drainage for your roses combine 1/3 compost, composted bark or Natures Helper and 1/3 coarse sand like builders sand (not play sand!), granite sand or expanded slate with 1/3 native red clay soil.
• Plant your rose so that it is at the same level as the pot it came in but preferably an inch or so higher to ensure good drainage for the roots.  Spread the roots horizontally if possible.  Keep in mind the soil in your new planting hole may settle a little and you do not want your rose to sink below ground level.  If your planting a bare root rose you will need to mound your soil in the hole into a cone so the roots can be spread over it and then finish filling the hole with the amended mixture. If you have purchased a grafted rose make sure the bud union is 1” above ground.  Mulch around your roses well (3”-4”) which will provide moisture retention while keeping the roots cool during our hot summers. Keep mulch away from the stem to help avoid insect and disease problems. Water in your rose well at planting.

Watering:

• Watering guidelines vary according to location and weather patterns but typically 1”-2” of water per week at one time (a deep soaking) will suffice except during extreme drought or heat.   During these extremes you may need to water about every 3-4 days.   It is most important to monitor your watering during the first year while your plant is establishing new roots. Maintaining a good layer of mulch will help during extremely hot and dry weather.

Fertilization:

• Fertilization is important during the growing season. Roses are heavy feeders and will perform best if feed regularly.   There are several rose foods available that are granular or liquid applications in organic or synthetic forms.   Bayer Rose and Shrub Care fertilizer includes a systemic (absorbed through the roots) disease and insect control lasting several weeks making rose care very easy. Typically roses are fed about every 3-4 weeks from April thru early September.   Each brand of fertilizer will have different schedules so always read the label and follow the recommendations!

Pruning:

• Prune roses while they are still dormant in the early spring. If your rose only blooms once a year then prune AFTER it blooms. Pruning will shape your roses and give them more energy for new growth and flowers. Remove all dead, diseased and crossing canes and cut live stems ¼” above a bud eye facing outwards allowing for an open growth habit. Pruning back approximately 1/3 will give more energy to remaining buds to produced larger healthier flowers. You can prune more or less, roses are forgiving and you will learn to know how much is right for your preferences. Grafted roses can produce suckers from the rootstock and they should be removed.

Going Organic?

• Select one of the more insect and disease resistant varieties of roses. ARS ratings are typically from 6-6.9 for fair to 9-9.9 for outstanding. The perfect 10 has not been created!
• Make sure your roses stay healthy getting plenty of sun, food and water.   Remember that roses like water but do not like to sit in water so remember that good drainage is very important!
• To reduce the occurrence of disease, avoid overhead watering.   If you water overhead, do so in the morning to allow the leaves to dry. Drip irrigation (or hand watering) is a good alternative especially in our period of drought.
• Remove old flowers and diseased foliage.   Pick up old foliage and flowers and keep the area clean.   Keeping your roses clean will help prevent problems from arising down the road.
• Identify your insect or disease problem correctly to ensure you are treating the problem correctly. Some organic products will kill the good insects too! If you are unsure of your diagnosis, contact your local county extension office and speak with a master gardener.   Try alternatives to using products first if possible like hand removal of insects (for Japanese Beetles) or a strong spray of water (for aphids). Below is a list of some organic products used for roses.
• Organic fertilizers commonly used for roses: compost, rotted manure, fish emulsion, seaweed extract, bone meal, blood meal and alfalfa meal.  Rose Tone is an organic fertilizer available at most nurseries and box stores.
• Organic products commonly used to control pests and diseases: neem oil, pyrethrins, sabadilla, rotenone and baking soda based products.

What are the typical problems to check your roses for?

• Select a disease resistant variety (#1)
• Avoid overhead watering
• Provide plenty of air circulation around roses by not planting them too close together and by proper pruning.
• Make sure they get enough sun. At least 6 hours is best.

Here are a few recommendations for the Atlanta area:

Shade Tolerant Roses

• Apothecary Rose (Old Garden Rose) : ARS rating 9.3, fragrant, branches to 4’, mid summer bloom.
• Madame Hardy (Old Garden Rose): ARS rating 9, white, fragrant, spring bloom.
• Rosa Mundi (Old Garden Rose):  ARS Rating 9.1, striped red, pink & white, light fragrance, 3’ tall & a sprawling habit.
• Honor (Hybrid Tea Rose) : ARS Rating 7.6, white, large clusters with light fragrance, tall upright grower.

Other Low Maintenance Roses with high disease resistance

• ‘Knock Out’ Rose : ARS rating 8.6 , available in red , pink, and rainbow colors, shrub form to 6’ tall if left unpruned, high disease and pest resistance, very easy to grow. The Red Double Knock Out was introduced in 2005.
• Iceberg (Floribunda) : ARS rating 8.9, white, scented double flowers in large clusters, long lasting bloom period. Great for a hedge and is extremely hardy.
• First Prize (Hybrid Tea) : ARS rating 9.1, rosy pink, long stems, fragrant, good for cutting, medium height.
• The Fairy Rose (Polyantha) : ARS rating 8.7, pink, compact (2 ½’ tall), slightly fragrant, large clusters of flowers, good for a small hedge.
• Lady Banks Rose (Species): ARS rating 9, available in yellow or white, small 1 ½” double flowers in heavy clusters,  blooms in the spring, climbs to 25’, thornless.   Can get very large!
• Madame Hardy (Old Garden Rose) : ARS rating 9, white 2 1/2 “- 3” double fragrant flowers, spring bloom, 4’-6’ T.
• Royal Sunset (Climbing Rose) : ARS rating 8.1, apricot to peach, 4 ½” double blooms all season, vigorous to 10’, good on posts or fences.
• Rise and Shine (Miniature Rose) : ARS rating 9, medium yellow 2 ¼” double flowers, continuous blooms, 12”-14” tall and vigorous.