When planting your long stem roses, be sure to select an area where they will get 6 hours of sunlight and good air circulation.

Do hard pruning in late winter or early spring just as new growth begins. Remove old damaged canes from center to let in fresh air and sunlight, leaving thick healthy ones forming a circle on outside. Cut remaining stems to 12-24 inches and fertilize in a few weeks time.

To protect during harsh winters, tie canes together and mound with soil. Surround mound with insulating materials such as leaves or straw and shelter with a cylinder, perforated with breathing holes.

Adopt a regular spray program to protect roses and their leaves from disease.

And, don't forget to give your long stem roses lots of water!

Ken Austin
Roses and Rose Gardening

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This species, native to China, Korea and Japan, has been made into a number of different rose cultivars. It is a fast growing pink flower with rose-hips resembling small tomatoes. It prefers full sunlight and well-drained acidic soil. Since it is a salt-tolerant plant, it is an ideal shrub in coastal conditions. Light infrequent pruning will help keep growth of rosa rugosa under control.

Rosa Foliolosa

This is a member of rosaceae family and is also know as leafy rose or prairie rose. The rosa foliolosa is a lovely little rose found mainly in Central and North Central Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. It is small in size with very thin wood, very elegant little foliage, with usually nine tiny leaflets per leaf. One of its great characteristics is its fern-like bright green foliage.

Rosa Blanda

Another member of rosaceae family, rosa blanda, also known as meadow rose is a shrub-like thornless plant which grows to about three to four feet tall and prefers rich soil in full sun to light shade. It produces lovely pink flowers between June and August and fruit resembles small apples.

Ken Austin
Roses and Rose Gardening

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