| The rose bush, once termed the "queen of the | | | | coming into leaf, as the new plants by not having |
| garden," can be unmatched in its flower | | | | time to establish an adequate root system, are |
| performance. It can also be maddeningly | | | | liable to dry out when the temperatures suddenly |
| frustrating as it fails to deliver on its promise. | | | | rise. In such cases, it's better to plant roses that |
| While many a home gardener's disappointment | | | | have been grown in containers. Similarly, roses |
| can be traced to choosing the wrong type of | | | | should only be transplanted in the middle of winter. |
| rose for a particular location, poor performance | | | | If it's a bit late in the season, wait till next winter. |
| and appearance can be avoided if the correct | | | | As warm spells are common in Mediterranean |
| maintenance procedures are carried out. | | | | winters, the bushes must be watered in after |
| There are in fact important differences between | | | | planting, and the soil remain fairly moist, but not |
| care and maintenance in cold winter climates and | | | | saturated. A mulch of wood chippings will help to |
| mild winter ones, but before going into that, let's | | | | preserve moisture and keep down weeds as well. |
| first see which tasks are common to growing | | | | Pruning roses |
| roses, irrespective of the climate. | | | | The pruning of established roses needs to be |
| Planting roses | | | | carried out quite differently in mild winter climates |
| Wherever the location, roses must be grown in | | | | as compared to cold winter ones. Southern |
| full sun, in well-drained soil, and at a proper | | | | California is not the Mid West, and Southern Italy |
| distance from trees and other bushes.(Between | | | | is not Germany or Eastern Europe. Here then are |
| 5-10 meters) It is also important to plant the | | | | some basic ground rules: |
| bushes at the recommended distances from each | | | | *There is no need to cut down the plants to the |
| other, without being tempted to squeeze in more | | | | ground. Remove between a third and a half of |
| roses for "better effect". The effect usually | | | | the bush's height. In the meantime, old, dry and |
| achieved from over-crowding is weak growth and | | | | damaged wood can be cut away. |
| greater susceptibility to fungal disease like mildew. | | | | *While pruning should be performed while the rose |
| Planting bare root is preferable to planting from | | | | bushes are dormant, it should nonetheless be |
| containers because you have the opportunity to | | | | delayed to about 6 weeks before the possible |
| examine the roots. These should look whole and | | | | occurrence of late frosts. So if for instance, |
| healthy, with at least three main roots spaced | | | | frosts are not likely to occur after March 15, then |
| reasonably evenly from each other. Planting bare | | | | the roses can be pruned around the beginning of |
| root should only be done while the plant is | | | | February. This is necessary, because pruning cuts |
| dormant, so the winter is the best time to do so. | | | | combined with warm spells, encourage premature |
| However, at the end of winter in Mediterranean | | | | growth which is highly vulnerable to damage from |
| climates, it's common to jump from 2c to a heat | | | | late frosts. This damage to young tissue causes |
| wave within a couple of days. | | | | fungal and bacterial infection which is of course |
| For this reason, do not plant bare root at the end | | | | detrimental to the health of the plant as a whole. |
| of winter, or if the plant is showing signs of | | | | |