Show #37/2111
An Historic Garden in Pasadena

ROSES DON'T NEED TO BE LABOR INTENSIVE

Many shy away from growing roses because they view them as a fairly maintenance intensive plant. Clair thinks people overcomplicate growing roses. It's just basic horticulture. One needs sun, the more the better, 6 to 8 hours at least a day. Roses need a certain amount of irrigation, particularly during the growing season. But Clair thinks most people over fertilize their roses. Here they use a time release fertilizer that allows them to feed once every 3 to 4 months. They might put down 1 or 2 applications in the season. And they continue to bloom and do well. Another point - Over fertilizing roses produces too much vegetated growth and you won't get the same quality bloom. Insects like the softer tissue so they're more likely to attack plants that have been over fertilized. So, it's really better to cut back fertilization a little bit.