|
Are you a slave to your roses?
Send a link to a friend
[JULY
3, 2004]
URBANA --
It is not unusual for home
gardeners to become discouraged when their hybrid roses fall to
disease or other problems, said a University of Illinois Extension
horticulture specialist. However, there are varieties of roses that
are not only more disease-resistant but are comparable in terms of
decoration. |
|
"Some home gardeners plant
hybrid tea roses and soon find themselves worrying constantly about
controlling diseases or winter protection," said Greg Stack
"Basically, they become slaves to their roses instead of having
roses that add something to the garden with minimal care."
Information about those hardier
varieties is available through Extension's
Urban Program Resources
Network, in the
"Hort Corner"
section. The site is
"Our Rose
Garden," and it offers information to make the home gardener's
life a bit simpler.
"It doesn't have to be a chore
to grow roses if you pick the right ones -- ones that are
hassle-free," said Stack. "Shrub roses, for example, are less
demanding in terms of spraying, pruning and general care. And they
also tend to be more resistant to diseases that affect roses."
A common misconception among
home gardeners, Stack noted, is that roses must have full sunlight.
[to top of second column in
this article]
 |
"A recent article in the
American Nurseryman magazine dealt with this by highlighting the
'shady ladies,' that is, roses that are tolerant of shady
conditions," he said.
At the "Our Rose Garden" site,
users will find information about selection of rose plants as well
as picking and preparing a site to plant roses. There is also
information about diseases, winter protection and types of roses.
"Picking the right rose can be
important for a couple of reasons," said Stack. "First, you don't
want to become a slave to your roses. You want to select something
that will fit with the time you have to give and the conditions of
your yard.
"Second, if you pick the right kind of rose, you can give color to
even partially shaded areas of your lawn."
[University of Illinois news
release]
 |
