Tips for March

Remember, these tips and tricks are current for zone 5 and need to be adjusted one week earlier for each 100 miles south of the southern tip of Lake Michigan that you live, and one week later for each 100 miles north.

    Having good roses starts with the purchase. There are three grades of roses. A #1 grade rose has at least 3 canes, a minimum of 5/16 inch in diameter. A #1&1/2 has at least 2 canes that diameter, and a #2 has canes. When picking out your rosebushes, always try to get #1 grade. They have a bigger root system and will grow larger and produce more flowers the first year. The more expensive roses available from the discount stores and garden centers are usually #1 grade. The roses found on sale for less than $5 are usually # 1 & 1/2. Stay away from #2 roses. They have small root systems and won't produce much of a bush. If you get a real good bargain for $1.98 or less, chances are it's a #2 grade.

Look for green canes with little or no wax. If the package feels light that means it's dryed out and should be avoided. Shop early in the season as soon as they appear in the stores and before they have sprouted too much. Those sprouts found on packaged roses come from the food stores in the plant. Limp, dried, or black sprouts indicate that the rose bush has been stored too long. When planted, the sprouts need to be removed so the roots can get established in order to support the top growth. Those roses with shrunken, brittle, dried, and discolored canes should be left at the store.

When you get it home remove it from the package and soak it in a bucket of water while you're digging the planting hole. You can put it in to soak the night before you plant.

The hole should be 18 to 24 inches wide by 18 inches deep. Mix compost and other organics with enough dirt to fill the bottom half of the hole. Make a little hill of soil on top of that.

Remove the rosebush from the water. Cut off any broken, damaged, or extra long portions of the roots. Prune each cane back to about 3/8 inch above an outward facing bud, cutting at angle away from the bud.

Carefully position the roots over the little hill of soil so that the swollen part (bud union) of the main stem is just even with ground level. Replace the soil around the roots, making sure you remove all air pockets. When the hole is almost full to ground level, pour in the water from the bucket. This will remove any remaining air pockets. As soon as the water drains, complete filling the hole and hill up soil over the bush until just the tops of the canes are showing. Water well and when you see new growth coming thru the soil you can gently remove the hill or leave it if you wish. Make sure your new rosebush gets at least one inch of water a week, more if there is no rain or you have sandy soil.

Next month: Fertilizing your Roses.

-Rosenut