Roses have stood the test of time. They have been around for hundreds of centuries and are one of the most recognized flowers in the world. Their beauty and fragrance have made roses a favourite among many gardeners. They are not hard to grow if given the right growing conditions.
Plant roses in an area that receives at least 6 hours of daily sunlight. The soil should be rich in organic matter, slightly acidic and have good drainage. Dig a hole twice the size of the pot. Fill the hole partway with some high quality outdoor potting soil. Place the rose in the hole to the same depth that it was in the pot. If the rose is a grafted rose, the grafted area should be just below ground level. (Many of the hardy roses are grown on their own root and are not grafted). If the hole is at the right depth, sprinkle a handful of bonemeal in the hole before planting the rose bush. After the rose has been planted give it a good thorough water.
During the first year, water the rose regularly. Give it a good thorough water once or twice a week, (depending on the weather,) preferably in the morning. Avoid getting water on the foliage as this can lead to mildew.
Roses can be low maintenance if you choose the right varieties for our area. Hardy rose varieties that are zone 3 or lower will grow in the Prince George area without needing extra winter protection. There are too many varieties to list which are hardy for our area. The list includes the old time 'Rugosa' roses known for their wrinkly foliage and fragrant blooms. Over the past few years Agriculture Canada have introduced many new varieties, that are able to withstand our Canadian winters. 'Explorer roses' named after many of the different explorers who helped in discovering Canada, and the 'Parkland/Morden' series of roses. Also available are the 'Easy Elegance roses'. These roses are known for their disease resistance and ability to bloom throughout the summer. Two varieties to look for are 'Macy's Pride' which have lemon yellow buds that open up to creamy white blooms and 'Music Box' which have creamy yellow blooms with a soft pink tint.
There are many other rose varieties that will grow in Prince George but they will need extra winter protection to survive the winter successfully. Extra winter protection could be as little as extra mulch around the base of the plant to completely covering the rose bush with a rose hut and filling it with peat moss, depending on how hardy the rose is. The 'Knockout roses' are a repeat bloomer, self-cleaning, rose with good drought and disease resistance but will need a bit of extra care in the fall to help survive through the winter, as they are slightly less hardier then a zone 3. They are in the garden centre right now, and are in full bloom, which would make them a great gift idea for Mom on Mother's Day.
Roses can also be grown in containers. The Knockout roses and the Easy Elegance roses are good for containers as they are compact, and everblooming. Any rose that is grown in a container, regardless of what zone it is, must be brought into a protected area such as a heated garage or shed, over the winter months, if you want the rose to survive for the following year.
If you are still looking for a beautiful Mother's day gift that will give years of enjoyment, give Mom a rose bush!
