roses

Join us for a practical and informative talk on growing and caring for roses in your own home garden.  Master Gardener Sharon McCray will teach the novice and experienced gardener about rose culture, how to plant, prune, prevent diseases, feed and care for them for many years of gorgeous blooms.

To sign up for the workshop, phone the Erikson office during regular business hours at 408-723-6450 or email Ritab@metroed.net.

February is a great time to prune rose bushes. Master Gardener David Giroux will describe how to prune roses to mprove their health, vigor, structure and appearance. David has years of great experience at the Heritage Rose Garden in San Jose, http://www.heritageroses.us, which has more than 4,000 plants and more than 3,000 different varieties of heritage, modern and miniature roses. He will also discuss rose care so come with all your rose questions! Marianne and David will bring potted roses for a hands-on pruning demonstration.

Master Gardener Judith Cody will demonstrate how to grow organic roses with sustainable gardening methods. Roses needn't be only ornamental; learn how roses can also be a positive addition to the environment's well-being.  Other topics include: which bugs are helpful or harmful to roses; controlling and recognizing common rose diseases; ways to conserve water; and eliminating tedious spraying with toxic chemicals that endanger our families and the environment.   The information will include information on selecting hardy roses and cultivation methods that control rose problems before they start.

Lorrie Freeman, MG 1992

To root hardwood cuttings:

In the dormant season, it is very easy to root cuttings of your roses. Prepare a 5-gallon or larger container (with good drainage) by filling it about 2 inches with garden soil; then with construction-grade sand (large particles) fill up to 1 inch below the top of the container. Moisten well. With a stick, make 5 or 6 deep holes. Cut 10 to 12-inch pieces of the rose canes you want to propagate. Use firm wood from the middle of the cane, not the soft tops. Label the cut canes with the name of the variety; a loop of masking tape around the cane works well. Insert the cuttings into the deep holes, with at least three eyes under the sand; firm sand around cuttings. (Dipping the bottom of the cutting in a rooting hormone before planting may help.) Water well and keep moist constantly. Grow the new plants in sun or open shade. It is not necessary to cover with plastic. After three months, carefully lift each cutting out individually with a tablespoon. Plant or share extras.

Thoughts on Pruning Roses

First, have the correct tools and have them sharp: bypass clippers, lopers and a pruning saw. And protect yourself with thornproof gloves. Wear a long-sleeved jacket and strong pants like denim or material that won't snag. If doing climbers, especially, protect your eyes.

Keep in mind Austins have both modern and old garden rose 'blood', so follow local guidelines for both types as much as sensible. Also, if this is the first or second winter you're pruning, do no more than cut the spent bloom and it's one-year growth down 1/3 -- as well as cutting out dead wood, crossing canes (that will damage each other when windswept) and "frivolous" spindly and small, fussy stuff. If it's a first or second year rose that has grown out of all control (and some may do just that), you have to be more "ruthless."

The following links are to websites outside of the UC domain. No endorsement is intended of products, services or information nor is criticism implied of similar sites that are not mentioned.

Gardening Information

• California Landscape Contractors Association - tips for hiring a landscape professional
• Certified Arborist Lookup - find a certified arborist in your area and learn about basic tree care. 
• Farmers' Markets - find Santa Clara County farmers' markets on the County of Santa Clara website or the Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Accociation website.
• Master Composters of Santa Clara County - Recycling and composting info and classes
• Soil Testing Laboratories (PDF) Note: there's only one lab in Santa Clara County: Soil & Plant Laboratory in Santa Clara

Gardens and Parks

• Emma Prusch Farm Park - Gardens and farm animals
• Filoli Gardens - Magnificent gardens at an early 20th century country estate in San Mateo County
• Gamble Garden - Historic home and gardens in Palo Alto
• Guadalupe River Park and Gardens - San Jose's Central Park