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| This will be my first full season with the roses I bought last summer and planted in the ground late fall. I have about 12 nice sized hybrid teas on fortuniana and they are all full of new growth busting out. Most of them are around 3 feet tall, but a few of them have stems reaching up to almost 6 feet. I am extremely excited to see what they do this year after having several months in the ground to grow roots all winter in the soil that I worked so hard to amend last year with tons of rotted manure, lawn clippings, kitchen refuse, coffee grounds, etc., and covered with well shredded tree clippings (a Back to Eden rose garden, if you will). I am in South Louisiana and wondering if now is the time to start my spray program? A couple weeks ago we got to about 20F which is extremely rare, and have had a few light freezes, but this past weekend, we were in the 70s! Also, how to prune? I have read that fortuniana roses respond to being pruned about waist high. Does that sound about right? And is now the time? Lastly---fertilizing. I always read about these complicated concoctions rose growers put together, but wonder if that is necessary? I have a large bag of alfalfa pellets and some RoseTone, and some Milorganite. Should I go get some Osmocote? And how much per bush? |
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| The American Rose Society rose garden is in Shreveport, LA and they just had their pruning party this past weekend. So I would think now would be a good time to prune for you if you're in that area. I don't know about how fortuniana likes to be pruned since I'm in too cold a zone to grow it. I do think that once you've pruned would be a good time to start any spray program if you haven't done any winter spraying. As for fertilizer, use what you have. I don't think it's necessary to get Osmocote at this time. All those things you listed are good organics for the soil and should give them a good start to the season. How much? READ the labels and FOLLOW the directions on all products you use in your garden. And don't forget to protect yourself! |
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| I sent you an email. I have a PowerPoint that might help you. |
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| Paul Zimmerman does some excellent rose pruning videos. I live in Houston and we always advise to prune the week of V-day. As for spraying I usually hold off until the roses tell me. Temperature and humidity are great right now for BS but we are about to dip into the 40s this weekend which should help. When the weather is 50-80 degrees with high humidity I worry about spraying. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Paul Zimmerman Rose videos
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