Looking ahead to spring

When the forsythia

starts to bloom, it is time to gently wake your rose plants. Carefully

remove the winter protection from around the canes. If you used materials

that drain easily, you can incorporate them into the soil or use as a

mulch around the plants. If you did not fertilize during the winter, now

is the time.

According to

Hutton, when forsythia blooms is also the time to prune back the canes

of your roses. In most cases, they should be cut leaving no more than

12 inches of the old canes. Also prune out any light, twiggy growth from

the base of the plant. This creates a stronger plant with lots of blooms

from the first flush in spring.

As new leaves

start to show, spray your roses with a fungicide to control black spot,

making certain to cover the stems, new shoots, leaves and the ground around

the plant. This will help clean up any of the disease that may have survived

the winter.

"If you

only spray your roses once, doing so in early spring will do the best

job of getting your roses off to a fast, healthy start," Hutton says.

These tips

apply to conventional garden roses such as the hybrid teas, grandifloras

and floribundas.

Shrub roses need no winter

protection

"If you

have Star Landscape Roses such as the Bonica, Carefree Delight, 'Knock

Out' or any of the Meidiland shrub roses, none of this winter protection

is needed. You can ignore all of the above," Hutton says. "If

you wish to do pruning and fertilizing, however, spring is the right time

for them."

As the north

winds begin to blow, your rose blooms and scents are gone but not forgotten.

A little effort this fall will ensure that they survive to delight you

again next year.

Star Roses

and Star Quality Plants, from The Conard-Pyle Co. since 1897, are available

in fine garden centers everywhere. For more information visit www.starroses.com.

Back

to Home & Garden Home Page