Georgia Magazine - April 2020 - 40

GEORGIA Gardens

'I've come to realize that flowers are
just an extension of ourselves, and
what we put in our gardens is often
based on what's in our hearts.'

ST
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RO
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ES A

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LANTS

-Chris VanCleave

Picking the rose that's right for you
Continued from page 38

does a midsummer pruning of his roses to limit the insects' food
source. This also encourages the roses to put out a second flush
of flowers as temperatures cool in late summer.

Setting the stage for success
Zimmerman supports his roses with healthy soil, deep
watering during dry spells and an application of a slow-release
fertilizer in spring. He supplements this with monthly applications of a liquid, seaweed-based fertilizer until August, when he
makes a final application of slow-release fertilizer.
VanCleave uses a mix of compost and mini pine bark nuggets as a planting bed for his roses and alternates feedings of
a slow-release fertilizer with a top dressing of composted cow
manure every six weeks to maximize blooming.
Both recommend the American Rose Society as a source
for advice on roses that will grow well in your area. Visit
rose.org to sign up for a free e-membership and get rosegrowing tips delivered right to your inbox.
Most importantly, when planning your garden, think about
what you enjoy.
"I've come to realize that flowers are just an extension of
ourselves, and what we put in our gardens is often based on
what's in our hearts," VanCleave says. "Flowers are a personal
thing; put what you like in your garden."
Helen Newling Lawson is a freelance writer and Master
Gardener in Forsyth County.

Georgia Magazine

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These easy-care roses are well-suited to Georgia gardens.
'Tahitian Treasure': Brandon Coker at the University of
Georgia (UGA) Trial Garden in Athens says: "If I had to pick
the biggest bang for the buck, 'Tahitian Treasure' outblooms just about any other rose. The salmon-colored flowers have little fragrance, but as a whole it's nearly perfect."
'Oso Easy Double Red': Lush in both its rich red color and
double-petal form, this rose holds its flowers on long stems,
making them easy to add to cut-flower arrangements.
'Screaming Neon Red': This compact rose is covered in
vibrant blooms all summer and won multiple awards in the
Biltmore International Rose Trial, including Most DiseaseResistant Shrub.
'Lady of Shalott': VanCleave and Coker recommend this
variety with full, apricot-colored, fragrant blooms that
VanCleave calls "a showstopper."
'Pinkie Climbing': Nearly thornless, this climbing rose with
loose, double pink flowers is a great choice for a spot that
gets lots of foot traffic, like the gazebo in the UGA Trial
Garden.
'Lady Banks': This vigorous climber has masses of dainty
yellow flowers and no thorns.
'The Poet's Wife': VanCleave, who is partial to yellow roses,
recommends this richly fragrant variety.
'At Last': This carefree shrub rose produces fragrant blooms
over a long season.

DAVID AUSTIN ROSES LTD.

'Lady of Shalott'
'Tahitian Treasure'

April 2020

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3/11/20 1:09 PM

http://www.rose.org

Georgia Magazine - April 2020

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