Now that February is here, spring can’t be too far away.  February weather in the Tri-State area can be very tricky, as we usually have a few very cold days followed closely by some very warm days.  Hopefully the winter protection that you placed around your roses will “do its thing” and keep your soil temperature pretty constant.  Most of the winter damage to our roses is done by cold weather followed by warm weather and vice versa.  

When we do get some warm days, resist the temptation to start your spring pruning.  Pruning your roses will signal them to start growing.  Without fail, we will have some more cold temperatures.  If your roses have started growing, they will be damaged.  You should not prune your roses in our area until at least the second week of March.

 If you failed to get it done in the fall, now is a good time to check your soil pH.  Roses like a pH of 6.5, which is slightly on the acid side.   

Pick a warm day, and spray your roses with a dormant spray of liquid lime-sulfur.  This will help kill any disease spores that might be trying to over winter in your garden.  Be very liberal with your application and don’t be afraid to get it on the ground around the plant.  Spraying with lime-sulfur now will help ensure that your roses begin the new growing season disease free.  Remember, it’s always easier to prevent disease than it is to cure it!   

If you’re planning to have a new rose bed this season and haven’t already done so, get your soil ready now.  Be sure to add plenty of organic material, such as mushroom compost, sphagnum peat, pined bark fines, manure, etc.  A good soil mix for roses will have about 1/3 good top soil, 1/3 sand (or perlite) and 1/3 organic material.   

Bare root roses will be arriving soon.  Before planting, soak them overnight in water with some root stimulator added.  This will help re-hydrate the dormant plants.  When planting bare root roses, be sure to cover the canes with mulch to keep the wind from drying them out.  If your beds aren’t ready for planting, you can pot your roses up in 3 gallon nursery containers.  You’ll need to keep them indoors at night when the temperature is near freezing or below.

When purchasing roses, buy as many as possible locally so you can see what you’re getting.   Always buy the best quality roses you can find and avoid the discount store bargains that are covered with wax.  Buying good plants greatly increases the odds of success!  When selecting which varieties to purchase, be sure and check out the Recommended Roses page on this web site.  These roses have been grown locally and demonstrated that they will perform well in our area.   Check out the 2011 rose lists for Ooltewah Nursery, Holcomb's (Hixson), Holcomb's (Fort Oglethorpe) and Beaty's.

Please be aware that our society will be meeting at the North River Civic Center on Thursday, February 22nd.   Guests are always welcome!