Writing an article about roses

[Stonehenge]

I've been asked to write an article on a very tight timeline (needs to be done tomorrow morning), about Roses.

Here's the question I have to answer:

I have many miniature tea roses that are gorgeous. One of them however has taken off this year and grown several canes that are close to 4 feet tall. The original part of the bush still produces beautiful blossoms. Will these new canes also? They have darker almost reddish leaves toward the ends of the long canes.

I'm not a big Rose guy, but I'm thinking the article should say: 'Yes.'

What else should I include to make this article interesting?

[jwholden]

Hey, I'm no Horticulturist here but I'd like to throw in my .02.

Wait, I am a Horticulturist.

I suspect that the tall canes are actually part of the ROOT GRAFT. Roses with nice flowers are grafted onto strong rootstock so they have the benefits of a strong plant and gorgeous flower. The reason the 'new shoots' are taking off so much is that they are from that very aggressive rootstock. They may flower eventually but if they do the flowers will not look like the original plant.

I would go into what depth to plant a rose and also all the crap that goes wrong with them and what to do about it, spray, winter protection, don't plant them because they are high maintenance. Recommend planting the new low maintenance roses such as 'Carefree Wonder', 'Meideland Series', 'The Fairy', etc.

Hope this helps. Your question almost seems loaded to me, begging for the answer I have given.

[Lanelle]

The bloom will depend on whether these canes come from above or below the graft union. Above should be the same although a genetic reversion to a 'parent' form is probably possible. If the canes come from below the union then NO, they will be inferior blooms or maybe not bloom. The root stock is normally not from a beautiful tea rose.

[dan deutekom]

95% of the time these will come from below the graft. If they bloom they will be similar to a wild rose type of bloom. If above the graft then this is a sport. If it blooms it can be a different colour, type or size. In both cases these should be removed from the plant because they ruin the vigor of the rose.

[dan deutekom]

my rose garden

[Stonehenge]

See? Told you I wasn't a Rose guy. Thanks folks. :)

JW - please don't feel like you have to hold back. Since I plan to plagiarize your words, I'll be sure to mail you a copy of the article. Heck, I'll even superimpose your face over mine!

[dan deutekom]

And another

[dan deutekom]

And one more

[Stonehenge]

Hey - I think I was jipped! Where's the last pic?

[dan deutekom]

Forgot picture:blush:

[Stonehenge]

Dan - you must have a pretty large property. That's lots of space - looks like a botanic garden. :flowers:

[dan deutekom]

I call it my garden but it is really where I hold my day job for the last 4 years as the Head Gardener at Rosetta Mclean Gardens in Toronto. The lockstone and landscape work is the after hours part of my life:woot:

[Slimber]

:cowboy:

Sounds like those canes are sprouts or sucker growth if it's from the base crown, the suckers are normally scraggly, long and thin. Over watering, too much fertilizer or environmental stress can be the cause and shoot these out.

[jwholden]

I suspect that the tall canes are actually part of the ROOT GRAFT. Roses with desirable flowers are grafted onto strong rootstock so they have the benefits of a strong plant and gorgeous flower. The reason the 'new shoots' are taking off is that they are growing from that very aggressive rootstock. These shoots may flower, but if so the flowers will not look like the original plant. Cut back these sucker shoots as close to the main stem as possible.

When planting roses the BUD UNION, where the two grafts meet, should be set at or slightly below ground level. This will prevent the rootstock from taking over as it has.

If you are interested in growing roses but not interested in the insects and diseases often associated with them I recommend you try Shrub Roses. Shrub roses do not have large flowers on long stems as Hybrid Teas. However, they are prolific long bloomers requiring minimal maintenance.

Some of my favorites Shrub Roses include ‘The Fariy’ – A very prolific pink spreading rose, ‘Carefree Wonder’ – With a large 2-3” Pink Flower, and The Meidiland Series – A nice collection of groundcover roses available in a range of colors including Pink, Red and White. All shrub roses require minimal, if any, chemical applications and will bloom from early-Summer to Fall with occasional deadheading.

Jeff,

You may want to check that the roses I mention are hardy in your climate. I'm Zone 6. If it works for you go with it but suffer the consequences of the die hard rose growers.

The shot below is 'The Fairy' taken about three weeks ago. I wish I had a better background than that lousy mulch.

You can send the hat to my business address.

Thanks,

John

[Stonehenge]

LOL - so you'd like a hat, eh?

Thanks for the additional info - it is much appreciated. (I feel like such a cheater!! :bag: )

[dan deutekom]

The picture of the little pink roses against the wall are also Fairy roses. JW is correct when he says they need little care. I just trim them back a little in spring using a hedge trimmer and I have never had the need to spray them. When they are finished their first bloom I just give the old petals a blow with a back pack blower so that they look clean and then they just start blooming again. My T roses require constant care including spraying, spring pruning, fall pruning, winter protection, dead heading, feeding and yearly mulching.

[Stonehenge]

Dan - I had no idea you were the lead gardener anywhere. I though you were a hardscaper through and through. Part of your bloodline, right?


I want to thank everyone for your generous help.

I will be sure to post the article here when it runs this Saturday. However, with our meager budget, royalties will not be possible.

But I can offer a hearty e-pat on the back and a thank you. :thumbup:

[Stonehenge]

Thanks for the help, everyone...

The editor sent me an email that she is 'forever in my debt'.

The article will run tomorrow - I'll post it when it does.

[Stonehenge]

From your fingers to publication.....

Thanks again for all the help on this one.

Click here to see the article (http://www.groundtradesxchange.com/forums/images/Tea Roses.pdf)

[Slimber]

:cowboy:

Very good. :thumbup:

[jwholden]

Jeff,

I never had the opportunity to write something that was published (or no one ever asked me). After seeing how you put that together in one night I'll definitely give it a shot when I see the opportunity.

Congrats on a great article for the portfolio.

John

[Stonehenge]

Congrats? I'm going to have a hard time taking congrats, especially from you. If you compare the article to the things you wrote in this thread, you'll find an amazing number of similarities. So I think the congrats belong more to you than me.

The only thing I really did was have a relationship with the editor such that she looks to me when she's in a pinch.

And I'll give you a hint about articles like this....don't wait for them to ask you to write them.

[jwholden]

I was thinking of sending a letter to some local papers with some info about me saying to give me a call if in a pinch. I think an article like that would be a wonderful thing to have in my presentation folder!

[Stonehenge]

Be careful what you wish for....

This can become a lot of work, especially when you aren't getting paid for it.

I know - I sound pretty jaded, don't I?

The first time I got some ink in the paper I was literally jumping around the house I was so excited. I went out and bought 10 copies of the paper that day.

After appearing in the paper about 10 times this year, I just saved the copy that was put in my mailbox this morning. Just like anything else, the novelty wears off.