Thursday, March 7, 2013

How to Grow Beautiful Roses


Pat Welsh’s book Southern California Gardening was written in 1992.  If you could see the dog eared version I have you would know what a valuable resource it has been for me. For those of you that have followed my blog for awhile  know that I grow primarily antique and David Austin roses in my garden.  I am not a big fan of the modern roses as I am equally concerned about how they look in the landscape as in the vase. I started following Pat Welsh’s program probably twenty years ago.  I have on a couple of occasions deviated from her plan and have never had even close to the same results.


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 Bouquet of mixed David Austin yellow beauties



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                                                                   Gloire de Dijon


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                                                          David Austin Golden Celebration

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                                                                       Eden Romantica Rose


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                                                                            Teasing Georgia


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                                                                     David Austin Molineux


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                                                                  Cecile Breuner Climbing Rose


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Pat has recently come out with a totally organic version of her original book. Even though the original version relies heavily on organic means I suspect that the newer version replaces the super phosphate with bone meal, the urea with blood meal etc.  If I didn’t have my little garden helper below I would adhere to the organic version.  Unfortunately he would (and has) found bone meal and blood meal highly appealing. 


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You can find Pat’s book on Amazon here http://www.amazon.com/Southern-California-Organic-Gardening-Edition/dp/0811868796/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362679232&sr=8-1&keywords=pat+welsh%27s+southern+california+organic+gardening+month+by+monthIf you live in California I would highly recommend it not only for her rose program but for a resource for all your gardening needs.

If you would just like a copy of her rose pro program email me and I will be happy to send it to you.  My only deviation from her program is the addition of alfalfa pellets (2 coffee cans full) once in January (I have been known to not get this done until March and they still cooperate) and once in July.

Pat also has a very informative website with tons of helpful tips and a link to her blog here
http://patwelsh.com/

Happy Rose Growing!
Cindy

12 comments:

  1. What a beautiful post! I can just smell the sweet fragrance of the roses!! I love to always keep fresh cut roses in my table loved this post

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  2. Hi Cindy, thank you for this...I am about to visit Pat's blog...if you have a minute, I would appreciate her rose pro program...I have a regimen I use, but it is always wise to see how others grow their roses! Thank you, N.xo

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  3. These roses are beautiful....the first image is gorgeous!

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  4. I would like to say what a pleasure it is to hear from so many people that aren't necessarily commenters but love gardening, roses and my blog! I so appreciate hearing from every single one of you whether it is through a comment or an email!

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  6. Cindy, back again! As I said in my email, my roses get babied big time..in very early Spring as soon as the ground thaws well, I begin a regimen of manure tea, Epsom salts and fish emulsion...two watering cans per plant at the base, till they are in leaf...roses are voracious feeders...then I give them a break till they bud...then proceed again till they are swelling and ready to bloom... They get hilled at the base with leaf mold or compost, whatever I have here in late fall,we live in a wooded area, shade and surrounded by a hardwood forest...challenging but possible...if I can do it anyone can! Thank you, Cindy, always love my visits here! N.xo

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  7. I have a small rose garden at home and am always so excited for the first bloom of Spring. Just love their beauty and fresh scent and have such a hard time cutting them for use indoors as they are so pretty on the vine!!

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  10. Great Job Cindy. An excellent post post regarding rose gardening. Spring is going on and fresh flowers are blossoming. I love these pictures. Yellow and white roses are looking so gorgeous.. Thanks for sharing.

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  11. I cannot look at yellow roses without thinking of my deceased father. He loved them. I do, too.

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