Organic Rose Growing

Choosing Easy-Care Roses

The first step in organic rose growing is to choose a variety of rose that is less susceptible to disease. Hybrid teas, which many people choose because they are the prototypical florist rose, are actually garden wimps. Your best bet for organic, easy-care roses are actually shrub roses, old-fashioned heirloom roses, and climbers. Rugosa roses are very easy to care for, and will tolerate a bit of shade, as well.

Of course, if you already have established roses growing, there's no need to rip them out. Simply use the following tips to grow them organically.

Choosing the Site: Sun and Soil

As with all organic gardening, the foundation of organic rose growing is the site. If you plant a rose bush in heavy clay, weed-tangled soil, it will never grow well. Roses like humus-rich, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, and a full eight hours per day of sun. If you give your roses those two things, they will demand very little pampering from you.

No matter what condition your soil is in, adding lots of compost, manure, leaf mold, and peat is a very good start. Dig any or all of these materials into the top twelve inches of soil. If you are working around established roses, simply top-dress the surrounding soil with compost or manure, and the worms and rain will do the rest.

Roses other than rugosas need full sun. Planting them in a spot that receives eight full hours of sun during the growing season will help prevent diseases like blackspot and powdery mildew, so you won't need to use fungicides.

Regular Care: Watering, Mulching, and Fertilizing

Day-to-day care of organic roses is fairly straightforward. Water them deeply every five to seven days. Be sure to water at soil level rather than above, because watering from above often exacerbates any fungal problems the plants may have. Mulch around the plants with two to three inches of shredded bark, chopped leaves, or cocoa hulls. This will keep the soil moist, discourage weeds, and keep any fungal spores that are in the soil from splashing up onto the plant. Roses only need to be fertilized three times per year: once in early spring, once when they're loaded with flower buds, and a final time about six weeks before your first frost date. It is best to use a granular organic fertilizer made specifically for roses or a fish emulsion or seaweed-based fertilizer.

Fighting Blackspot

The biggest problem rose growers face is blackspot. This starts out as a small black spot on the leaf. Eventually the leaf turns yellow and falls off. If the infestation is bad enough, it can kill the plant. Mulching will help by preventing any fungal spores in the soil from splashing up on the plant during rain or watering. If you start to notice black spot on the leaves, simply pull the affected leaves off the plant and throw them in the trash. If it looks like the fungus is spreading, try spraying the leaves with a mixture of one tablespoon of baking soda, a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent, and one quart of water. Spray the entire plant every three to five days, and the fungus should stop spreading.