May 27, 1998

Hybrid tea roses are grown by most gardeners because they make such beautiful cut flowers. There are other roses, however, that make beautiful additions to the residential gardens and landscapes. Shrub roses are now the rage because they are low maintenance and more winter hardy. They are the most trouble-free roses available. If you're looking for a bush or shrub that blooms all season, your best bet is a shrub rose.

'Wild Dancer', a new shrub rose, has clusters of bright magenta-pink single flowers. The bush grows a little over 2 feet high and wide, making it perfect for a low border where easy care and lots of color are a plus. Like all shrub roses, 'Wild Dancer' is resistant to the bugs and diseases that sometimes bother other rose forms.

Outside my front door, I have five 'Carefree Wonder' shrub roses that are going on seven years old. I never cover them for the winter or spray them for mildew. They bloom several times throughout the season with large 3 inch flowers. The rich pink petals have a creamy underside and the foliage is a glossy green. The young tree they were planted under has now grown so big that I will have to move the roses to a sunnier spot. In spite of the shade, they are blooming now.

'First Light' is a 1998 award winning shrub rose. Each light pink single flower has five to seven petals surrounding dark purple stamens. The blossoms have a spicy fragrance and the plants groom themselves. I think this rose will become a mainstay of many American gardens. A similar shrub rose, 'Carefree Delight', has a lighter, softer pink flowers.

'William Baffin' is a pillar type shrub rose that is considered by many rose growers to be a climber. It is very winter hardy and produces canes 7 to 9 feet long. Its double, deep pink flowers are 2 to 3 inches across, with up to 30 flowers in a cluster. Whenever I see an article about roses recommended for the Midwest, this rose is always mentioned.

Serious pruning of rose bushes is done in early spring, before new growth begins. During the growing season, however, roses can be lightly pruned if necessary to shape them up. It is especially important to remove completely any shoots which start below the graft or bud union to keep the rose from "turning wild". Other than that, the only pruning you will want to do is to cut roses for bouquets indoors.

Cut roses keep best if cut in late afternoon or very early morning when their sugar content is highest. Cut your roses on an angle with a sharp knife just when the outside petals first start to unfold. Always leave at least two sets of five leaflets remaining on the plant because the next flowers will develop from those eyes at the leaf axil.

After cutting, remove all the thorns and leaves which will be below the water line in the vase. Immerse the stems in warm water and leave them until the water cools. Then refrigerate the cut roses in water for 2 or 3 hours before arranging. Display your roses in a cool place out of direct sun.  Add fresh water daily.