New, low-maintenance rose varieties are introducing rose gardening to new demographic groups, and redefining the schema of the traditional rosarian. After the Rose Knock OutTM was chosen as an All- America Rose Selection (AARS) in 2000, it sold better in the following years than any rose ever before. The disease resistance and hardiness of this plant made it accessible to even the most novice gardeners. Commercial landscapers who normally avoided roses because of the hassle began using them everywhere. This was the start of a different way of thinking about roses.
Change is Good
The breeder who developed the Rose Knock Out , William Radler, was interested in roses from a very young age, and this shaped his entire career. He recognized something fundamentally wrong with the rose industry and set out to correct it. His goal was to "breed the maintenance out of roses."
Traditionally, old garden varieties and Hybrid Teas dominated the rose market. These varieties were delicate and bred specifically for their beauty. Their diseases, pests, and climate limitations were the burden of the individual gardener-- a burden born with great pride, because very few people were willing to make the sacrifice. To have a yard full of roses spoke loudly, touting the reputation of the rosarian. Many people who grew roses grew little else. That is starting to change.
A few die-hard old-fashioned rose gardeners may believe that the experience is cheapened, and they may fear that the doors of an exclusive club have been opened to the whole neighborhood. However, most will welcome the new varieties with a sigh of relief, and will delight in seeing their ranks swell as more and more gardeners successfully incorporate roses into their repertoire.
A Good Idea Goes a Long Way
William Radler developed the first Knock Out in 1989, and it hit the mainstream market in 2000, causing sweeping changes. The Knock Out roses have been unbelievably popular, and Radler hasn't stopped breeding, with the goal of a maintenance-free rose still in mind. There have been the Pink Knock Out , the Double Knock Out , Ramblin' Red , Carefree Sunshine , and the Rainbow Knock Out . This year, the Rainbow Knock Out picked up another AARS award for the Knock Out line. The Rainbow is the most floriferous, most disease resistant, and has the longest growing season of any Knock Out so far. They just keep getting better.
The buying public has responded positively to low-maintenance roses. And the popularity of these new roses has changed a lot about the way that roses are marketed and the way they are bred. In the eighties, you would get a full paragraph about the color and maybe another about its fragrance. Now, when you read about roses in a catalog, all of them are "easy to grow", "sturdy", and "exceptionally disease resistant." It's not just the retailers; the breeders have also shifted their focus. There is a new rose culture, a new generation of breeders out to grow the strongest roses, and our gardens and our backs will reap the benefits.
Thomas Andrews is a Garden Writer for Park Seed and Wayside Gardens.
How to Transplant Roses
When transplanting roses, there are some key things that should be done. Many people transplant roses without losing even one of their roses and it can be done with some practice. Once knowledgeable of the process it can be done perfect every time. There are some rosarians that can transplant 2oo roses into containers without damaging roots or compromising integrity.
Prepare, prepare, prepare. Preparation is one key element in transplanting. If the area in which you will be transplanting your roses to is not properly prepared you could have problems, especially if you are relocating your roses from one side of the yard to the other without potting first. When preparing your rose bed for the roses, make sure the soil is not waterlogged. Too much water in the soil does not have proper aeration and will not allow the rose to root properly.
Making sure the soil is at the proper ph balance is an important step before transplanting roses. The soil should be in the range of 5.5 - 7. Most rosarians keep their ph balance closer to 6.5 if not exact. If the soil is too acidic, powdered lime is the answer to that problem. If the soil has too much alkaline, using some organic matter will bring it back down. It is best to do this step before transplanting roses simply because it is easier to adjust the ph balance without the rose in place. Not to mention it then will be done without affecting the health of the rose.
Reasons for transplanting roses
o Relocating to another residence
o Redesigning your rose garden
o Planting in targeted sunlight
o Moving away from trees and shrubs
o Transferring potted roses to 메리트카지노 the garden
o Rearranging the beautiful colors into a design
Transplanting should be done in the early spring. This is when the soil is soft enough for it to be worked for preparation. Rose may be transplanted in mid to late spring while still coming out of dormancy. Some experienced rosarians are skilled enough to plant their roses at almost any time of year. I don't recommend this for a novice rose gardener.
Tools Needed for Transplanting Roses
o Long blade spade
o Sharp pruning clippers
o Soil and mulch
o Leather gloves
o Bone meal and a slow release fertilizer (organic or nonorganic)
o Possibly a wheel barrow
o Water
Once properly prepared for the task, try to have it done in one day. I would suggest not to take more than you can chew, meaning only start to transplant what you can do in your allotted time. If you try to transplant more than you can, you may end up rushing to finish. This isn't something that can be rushed. If your transplanting is not done properly, you could have a bunch of wilted/dead roses.
Before placing your rose into the properly prepared bed, take a garlic clove and mix it with the soil to help prevent an infestation of alphids. You don't want bugs to take over your rose garden and ruin all the hard work you just put in. Planting onions and chives with your rose garden can also help with other kinds of bug problems. It has been said that onions help your rose aroma to be more of a sweeter smell.
Now that you have your transplanted rose placed and watered, stand back and take a look. If you havn't already, make a layout for the roses you are going to transplant. By having this ready before hand will make it that much easier.