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About the Author - Dr. Susan Hamilton

Dr. Susan Hamilton is an associate professor in the University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences and director of the UT Gardens. The gardens are a project of the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station, with locations in Knoxville and Jackson: http://utgardens.tennessee.edu.

Despite beauty-queen looks and perfume-store fragrances, roses have fallen from favor as Tennessee gardeners like me grew tired of their persnickety personalities and incessant maintenance demands. I rid my garden of high-maintenance hybrid teas several years ago.

However, with the introduction of easy-care shrub roses, the most beloved of garden flowers has returned to prominence. Roses rule!

Modern shrub roses – which are easy to find at garden centers and nurseries or online – are tough and beautiful roses touted as being disease resistant and requiring no pesticide sprays or pruning. I have nine easy-care selections scattered in my landscape.

I chose my selections based upon research from the University of Tennessee, and I recommend that you do the same. A lot of shrub roses on the market are hyped as being disease resistant, but tests show that resistance varies. Of 64 “no-spray” shrub roses tested under various conditions by UT plant pathologists, 10 were identified as cultivars that can truly claim the title of no-spray, easy-care roses.

These resistant roses include the yellow varieties of Carefree Sunshine and Topaz Jewel, white roses Snowcone and Wildspice, and red varieties of Homerun and Knockout. For pink roses, you can’t go wrong with Hansa, Pink Knockout, Wildberry Breeze or Pretty Lady.

Another characteristic I love about these new shrub roses is that they mix well with other plant varieties. I have mine mixed with ornamental grasses, conifers, perennials and annuals. Some even thrive in partial shade, making them more versatile than traditional roses. Most selections range in size from 2- to 4-feet tall and just as wide. The plants don’t require pruning, but I trim mine back each spring only to reduce their size and keep them compact.

Although easy-care roses are taking the landscape by storm, many prefer traditional types, especially the beautiful cut flowers produced by hybrid teas. Here’s a basic primer for rose care – regardless of the variety you choose.

Planting
Start with good plants, preferably No. 1, 2-year-old, field-grown, budded plants. Plants that are not pruned should have three or more heavy 18-inch canes. Canes of pruned plants should have at least a 1/4-inch diameter at the top. Select a sunny and well-drained site, and plant new roses the last week of March or the first week of April.

Mulching
Three to four inches of pine needles, pine bark or a compost mix are ideal. Avoid using grass clippings or unrotted leaves. They decompose quickly and while doing so, eat up nitrogen and other nutrients.

Pruning
Prune roses the last week of March or the first week of April. Remove all weak, twiggy growth and wood killed or injured during the winter, cutting back to solid tissue. Prune to buds growing to the outside of the shrub. For fewer but larger blooms, cut shrubs back to 14-16 inches above the graft union. For many smaller blooms, cut shrubs back to 18 inches or taller.

Spraying
To prevent leaf-spot fungal diseases apply a fungicide every seven days.
Start spraying after spring pruning.

Fertilizing
Roses vary in their need for food. Be sure to use a fertilizer labeled for roses, and follow directions for the variety you are growing. 

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