Roses!
One way to circumvent many of the problems associated with growing healthy and beautiful roses is to choose cultivars that are suited to our region. There are hardy and gorgeous roses that can be grown successfully here. Before going into that, a few steps must be taken to assure their survival from the get-go:
In order to grow roses successfully, we need to take into account our climate and soil conditions.
First of all, before buying your roses, take a long and hard look at your garden conditions. Roses need a minimum of six hours a day of sunshine, on average. Morning sun is the best, so south and east locations are ideal for roses in our area. West can bring drying winds both in the summer and in the winter, and a north location recieves the least amount of sun.
Soil is another factor to consider. Hard soil that drains poorly is not the location for roses. If your soil needs extensive amending and drains poorly, the only way to hope for success with roses is to grow them in raised beds. To determine if your soil will drain properly, dig down about eighteen inches into the soil and fill with water. See how long it takes to drain. If half the water is gone within forty-five minutes and the rest has drained after another forty-five minutes has passed, your soil is draining fairly adequately. Any longer than that and you will need to improve the drainage. Soil amendments such as compost, peat, and leaf mulch will help to improve drainage. Also raise the planting area.
Conversely, if the water is gone within a forty-five minute period, your soil is too light, meaning you probably have a high proportion of sand in your soil. You will also need to add copious amounts of compost, peat, and other amendments to the planting site to help the soil hold more moisture. Just keep in mind to thoroughly incorporate all amendments into the existing soil.
After checking soil and selecting the proper planting site, the next step is to consider what kind of roses will do well in your particular area. Gardeners who live in the warmer portions of the Great Lakes Area will be able to grow hybrid floribundas and teas, as well as grandifloras and English roses. Those who live in the colder parts of our region will need to concentrate on growing other roses, primarily the shrub and old fashioned roses. Don't be discouraged, though, because there are still many lovely roses to choose from!
