Growing Roses Organically

Roses add an unparalleled level of beauty to a landscape. Growing big, beautiful roses at home doesn’t mean one has to dress up in a face mask, gloves and heavy-duty clothing and continuously spray toxic herbicides, fungicides and pesticides.

Roses can be grown organically, without the chemical sprays that known to be so harmful to wildlife and beneficial insects, not to mention people and the Earth.

How to Grow Roses Organically

Like any plant, roses need healthy soil, adequate water, sun and air circulation, and some basic maintenance in order to thrive.

Choose Disease-Resistant Varieties

Some roses, particularly hybrid tea roses, are more susceptible to diseases and attacks by insects; these roses are labor-intensive and much more difficult to grow successfully without using harsh chemicals.

However, there are excellent rose varieties on the market that are disease-resistant and hardy. A few widely available, disease-resistant roses are:

• Scentimental – a red and white floribunda rose with a strong fragrance
• Amber Queen – a lovely amber pink floribunda that has a beautiful rose fragrance
• Topaz Jewel – a soft yellow rugosa rose with a soft fragrance
• Lavender Lace – a pinkish lilac rose with a luxurious scent
• George Burns – one of the few tea roses that are disease-resistant, this variety is a gorgeous red and yellow with a strong rose scent
• Eutin – a true red floribunda rose with a light scent

All of these roses are repeat bloomers that have proven to be resistant to rust, black spot and powdery mildew in the less-than-ideal, damp climate of Corvallis, Oregon (Oregon State University Extension).

Improve the Soil

Like any other plant, a rose bush draws nutrients and water from the soil through its roots. If the soil lacks nutrients, or is too acid or alkaline, the rose won’t thrive.

First, test the soil using a pH test kit, widely available at garden centers or on the Internet. Soil that’s too acidic will have a pH that is very low; a highly alkaline soil will be over 9. Roses do best at a pH of 6.5, but a pH of 5.5-7 will also work.

Compost and Soil Amendments for Healthy Roses

Soil that has compost worked into it has a structure and texture that’s ideal for roses. It retains water, but doesn’t become soggy and sour. It contains beneficial microorganisms and micronutrients, as well as the essential nutrients nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Plus, soil that’s rich with compost needs less water and fertilizer, meaning less work for the gardener.

The following soil amendments are inexpensive and can be found at most garden centers:

• Alfalfa meal or pellets can be added to the soil to provide an organic, well-balanced, slow-release fertilizer.
• Blood meal provides nitrogen, essential for healthy flowers and foliage
• Bone meal gives the rose a dose of phosphorus and calcium, for strong roots
• Cottonseed meal is an excellent source of nitrogen
• Kelp meal gives roses a slow, steady dose of potassium and micronutrients, and stimulates the rosebush’s growth; potassium regulates water absorption in plants
• Fish meal and fish emulsion provides nitrogen
• Epsom salts provide magnesium sulfate; apply 1-4 Tbsp. to soil around base of rose bush each spring
• Soybean meal gives a rose magnesium, nitrogen and micronutrients
• Greensand provides trace minerals as well as iron oxide, lime, phosphoric acid and potash

Each of these soil amendments are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased at most gardening centers.

Off to a Good Start

Selecting appropriate rose varieties for the location and climate and providing them with soil that’s rich in nutrients and microorganisms are the first, most basic steps to take when starting an organic rose garden. Making the extra effort at this beginning stage will create healthier plants that will require less effort in the long run.

Source

Roebuck, Field, The Foolproof Guide to Growing Roses. Creative Homeowner, 2003.

What are the next steps in creating an easy & organic rose garden? See Caring for Roses Organically for more tips!