Roses in a Desert Garden

Want to grow roses in a desert garden? Well, you can. And, the addition of roses, especially in your “oasis” portion of your garden will enhance the beauty of that area, provide you with a wider variety of flowers, and add years of enjoyment.

There are, however, some specific rules one needs to follow when planting roses in the desert (or in a desert garden).

If you do indeed live in the West or Southwest, you need carefully consider where you want to plant your roses.

First, roses need to be sheltered from strong winds. Strong desert winds can damage roses by breaking the canes, and by drying out the leaves and roots. Since the prevailing spring and summer winds are from the southwest, I plant my roses on the east side of the house, or, for the few I have planted on the southwest side, behind four-foot garden walls for some protection.

Since roses grow best in well-drained, fertile soils, and desert soils are generally heavy clay soils (caliche) with several inches of decomposed sand and rock above it, I would recommend amending the soil.

Also, if you are planting your roses in heavy clay soil, you might want to give some thought to installing some drain tiles or digging trenches and filling them with rock and course gravel, to lead excess water away from the roots.

Plant your roses where they will receive at least six hours of sun. Roses can and are grown in the shade, but they are highly susceptible to mildew and insects than when grown in full sun.

However, you might also find that, in the warmer parts of the country, many varieties of roses stop blooming when the temperature reaches above 90 degrees F. If you live in one of those areas, you might want to choose a location that also protects your roses from hot sun in late afternoon.

The time to plant roses, in most of the higher elevations of the West and Southwest (and areas zone 6 and below) is February and March. This is generally when the plants are dormant.

When choosing your plants, look for quality, not price. It’s better to purchase fewer, healthier plants than plants that may be cheaper, but less healthy. Cheaper plants may also be weaker and will need more attention and care when you transplant them. They may also require more attention after they are established. Also, loss of plants is usually higher when buying lower-grade.

Most nursery professionals do a fairly good job in keeping their roses in good condition. One note of caution, however. May rose bushes are coated with wax to prevent dehydration. This wax can be a problem in really hot temperatures.

If you’re ordering bare root plants, note that roses are generally shipped with their roots packed in a medium to prevent them from drying out. When you receive your plants, check to see that there is no shriveling of the bark, and that the root tissues (and plant itself) are plump.

If the bark is shriveled and tissues are dried out, you can restore them by soaking the roots in water. I use a method of covering the roots with moist soil for several days. This can be done in the ground or in some type of container. I use plastic bags, filled with very moist soil. I immerse the roots into the soil and then close the bag around the stem of the plant with a rubber band or tie.

Bare root plants must be planted before any new growth appears. If they are planted after they start to grow, they will often die shortly after.

Next: How to plant roses in a desert garden.