Who doesn’t love roses? Personally, I envy those who are knowledgeable about growing roses, and extra envious of those who know the names of all the different roses Growing roses in Phoenix? Even in our withering heat, many varieties thrive, often in neglected conditions or without tender care.
Know your Planting Zone
There are multiple rose locations on our property. On the south side of our home, a rose garden is planted, with approximately 20 rose bushes. Quite honestly, I do not know the varieties of my roses, as these were initially selected by our landscape architect long ago. But now that I have the time, I am excited to be involved with all aspects of our roses.
Learn to Prune
Here is the last bouquet I cut before a hard pruning in January. This pruning is done for shape and to foster vigorous spring growth. Care of roses can be as complicated or straightforward as you care to make it, depending on the varieties you are growing and the zone in which it is grown. Remember to always select roses that are well suited to your area.
Rich Soil, Fertilizer, Water
Roses grow best in rich, fertile soil that is kept evenly watered throughout the year. In March, I add new compost soil around the beds of the roses, removing weeds and turning up the dirt. In addition, I check the watering system and add a rose fertilizer. This rose food can be found at Whitfill Nursery. The dogs LOVE it so you need to be extra careful that they do not ingest it.
Creating small berms around each plant helps with water retention.
Heirloom Roses
Next I move onto the heirloom roses that are on the periphery of the orchard. These 10 bushes are the original roses that we were able to save through the restoration. To read more about our house restoration, click here.
I believe these are Quatre Saisons (known as “Rose of the Four Season). This rather gawky, prickly rose produces the most fragrant blossoms. To read another story about these heirloom roses, click here.
Ramblers
In the front of our home, we have an additional 8 rose plants in front of the large Lady Banks’ roses. This old rambler, introduced in 1807, is very tolerant of the hot and dry conditions. Since we are growing it up the existing fence, Lady Banks’ provides a thick privacy hedge to the busy road. It is just now beginning to bloom with its small, yellow flowers. Soon this hedge will be one solid row of yellow.
Rose Hedge
The last of our roses is an enormous shrub rose. I do nothing to this because it is so huge. To give you an idea of its size, the wall behind it is 6 feet tall. It is approximately 12 feet x 10 feet by 12 feet tall. The bush is so thick with cane too and is the perfect habitat for birds.
Just starting to bloom, this shrub produces these delicate pink blossoms with a faint fragrance. If anyone knows anything about this rose shrub, please let me know. I imagine it has been here a very long time.
So all in all, we have 40 rose bushes, several Lady Banks’ bushes in both white and yellow, and this mysterious hedge above.
As I mentioned earlier, my goal is to tend to them this year and learn as much as I can about their origins, official names and classification. With most things in life, there are lessons to be learned, like wearing a long sleeve shirt while doing rose work.
“Death offers you thorns, eternity offers you roses, and life offers you both.”― Matshona Dhliwayo
Happy Wednesday to you! If you grow roses, please share. If not, I hope this post inspires you to do so. Roses are tougher than they look.
This post shared with Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday #634
Va in NC says
Thank you for sharing your roses….relocated to smaller place and surely miss my former plants.
Will take time to establish but I am trying in spite of some health issues. I will continue to enjoy
seeing your posts. Your home is just lovely.
Michele M. says
Oh, Mary! I loved this post. I love gardens and have had several roses over the years – they grow well around here, I just don’t know enough about them. I had a tearose given to me and it grew so fast. I ended up having to lose it as we had a pro landscaping done and it was in a wrong spot and didn’t like being transplanted.
We bought one rose bush at a store many years ago and it gave us 4 blooms ever. Started reading what I did wrong, and it was a lot. Lesson learned.
Now we have one about 4 years old and I am still learning how to care for it. I am afraid it’s not getting enough sun as our trees have gone nuts growing so much and now the roses aren’t getting as much sun as they need. Plus it’s Ohio, so it’s not always sunny either – so those two things may end up killing it.
My daughter said she’d happily take it and put in her VERY sunny garden if I wanted to chance it. But I don’t think any of the three of us want to see it go. So there it is. I am a garden newb, even after years.
As for you – and your love of roses – how may any of us not adore your respect for the age of the original roses planted on your estate? The history there – oh how I would love to see it all in person! It’s magical to me.
So this is way too long – sorry – just wanted to give some admiration and respect to what you have done and what you are doing and shall continue doing. Thank you.
Renae Frey says
Gorgeous! I can’t wait to see your garden in bloom. I love an older established garden. Mine is so new that it looks puny at times. In five to ten years it will look amazing, but the waiting is hard.
Blessings to you.
Mary Crozier says
Renae, it does take a while for things to grow in….But I imagine your garden is beautiful. Ours always looks best around Easter time….everything is in bloom and it’s not too hot yet to make the yard look tired.
LA CONTESSA says
YES, I GROW ROSES!I DID ALL THE PLANTING MYSELF 26 YEARS AGO……….
MY GARDEN IS YELLOW AND WHITE PREDOMINATELY.SO, I DONOT KNOW WHAT THAT MYSTERIOUS PINK ROSE IS………..
I TOO HAVE LADY BANKSIA AND CAUGHT MY MOW AND BLOW GUY YESTERDAY TRIMMING IT!!!!!
I WAS ON THE PHONE AND NEARLY HAD A HEART ATTACK!I WENT OUT SCREAMING NO NO NO!!!!!!!
IRONICALLY, THE FIRST BLOOM OPEN YESTERDAY!
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!NOTHING SAYS SPRING MORE THAN LADY BANKSIA……..WELL MAYBE A DAFFODIL!!
IN CALIFORNIA WE FERTILIZE IN JANUARY AND JUNE.
PRUNE BACK IN JANUARY.I’M RUTHLESS I CUT WAY BACK………….
AT LAST COUNT I HAD ABOUT 300 ROSES BUT THAT WAS A FEW YEARS AGO AND HAVE LOST A FEW.UNFORTUNATELY, AFTER YEARS OF GROWTH SOME NEED TO BE RE-PLACED.I HAVE STONE WALLS WHICH MANY ARE IN THE WALLS ALONG WITH STAR JASMINE…………..I WILL SHARE PHOTOS COME SPRING!AS MY GARDEN IS A SPRING GARDEN!!
I DIDNOT KNOW THEN TO PLANT FOR YEAR ROUND I JUST KNEW WHAT I LIKED!!!
Mary Crozier says
I would LOVE to see pictures of your garden. During my morning walkabout, I found other rose bushes (climbers) on the north side of the property. I feel like I am opening my eyes for the first time when it comes to roses! Your spring garden sounds just heavenly!
Chas Greener says
I love roses and grew some for years. I think it’s time I grow some more, they’re so beautiful. Thanks for sharing all your tips.
Mary Crozier says
Surprisingly growing them is easier than I imagined. Still need to learn alot, but happy to finally be focused in on them here.