Now is the optimum time to plant new season rose bushes and prune and mulch existing ones. Effort spent on rose care over the winter months pays off three-fold during the flowering season.
A new addition to the rose family this year is Scent to Remember, bred by Rob Somerfield of Waipuna, Tauranga.
He selected the rose because of its wonderful fragrant pink blooms and healthy habit and “it always seems to be in flower”.
Rob is a close neighbour of Waipuna Hospice, and funds raised from the sale of Scent to Remember go to the hospice.
Rob is a commercial rose grower and the breeder of several outstanding roses including White Romance, Blackberry Nip and Kaimai Sunset.
He has won many national and international awards over a 20-year period and his latest three roses for the 2009/10 season — Sunline, Love Heart and Crème de la Crème — have all been award-winners in New Zealand.
The Waipuna community was consulted and invited to submit suggestions for the name, as it was important the name should fit in with the zest for life philosophy of hospice.
It’s also an ideal name for a rose to give as a gift to mark a special occasion, or recall special events or people.
CHOOSING the right place to plant your rose is vital.
Roses need all day sun to thrive. They can survive in semi-shaded areas but will never flourish without enough sunlight and will be prone to mildew and mould diseases. Choose only healthy plants and never select any rose that has thin, spindly or bruised looking stems.
Next, add Tui rose fertiliser to the soil to enable the rose to quickly establish a firm root zone and provide a strong platform for the flowering stems which will follow in spring.
Plant the rose in the centre of the hole and ensure that the graft (knobbly bit just above the roots) is above the soil level. Firm the soil down well and give a good watering.
It’s a good idea to add Max Feed for roses – a water-soluble rose fertiliser which has been formulated to promote blooming of all flowering plants. Add it to your watering can and pour on and around newly planted roses.
Winter care for roses
TIDY up and remove all dead and diseased leaves from around rose plants. Burn or compost these well because pests and diseases often survive over winter in piles left on the ground.
An application of Eco-fungicide will help kill off any fungal problems still lurking around.
Prune in mid to late winter and for best results use clean sharp tools and prune on a clear warm day, avoiding the wet weather where possible. Remove all dead and diseased stems and generally aim to cut the main branches back by half.
Clear the centre of the plant to allow good air movement, leaving at least three to four main canes in an open vase shape. Remove any growth that may be coming out from below the graft and make all cuts on an angle, just above an outward facing bud.
Spraying – prevention is the key
THERE is no substitute for good hygiene, feeding and watering to promote healthy roses. Spray with copper to prevent any diseases carrying over to the next season.
Later in winter apply Tui Eco-fungicide or lime-sulphur that can be used to clean up powdery mildew. Make sure you leave several weeks between spraying with copper or lime sulphur.
Mulch, mulch and more mulch
APPLY a thick layer of mulch around roses in winter to protect the root zone and help plants prepare for the growing season.
Pelletised pea straw, compost and bark are all ideal mulches.
Fertilising during the winter months — once rose compost has been applied as mulch — means roses do not need a lot of extra food.
In the spring, application of Tui rose fertiliser enhances healthy growth. This fertiliser has an excellent level of potassium, which is the nutrient responsible for promoting large, vibrant, healthy blooms.
For established roses apply 200grams (cup) per square metre and water in well.
Application should be done in early spring and then again in mid-December for an autumn flush of bloom.
