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Roses can be the star of any garden with a few rules on selection, planting and care.
For new plants, bare root or packaged roses may be planted as early as six weeks before the last killing frost. This allows for root development before the plant's big push to produce leaves and flowers. Don't let these plants dry out. You can soak them for up to 24 hours in a bucket of water before planting. Afterwards, cover the entire plant with loose, moist soil to protect the canes from drying out and possible frost damage. Carefully remove this protection after danger of frost is past (typically about May 11 along the Front Range). It's best to wait until after the danger of frost is past before planting potted roses.
In choosing the site for planting, remember that roses need a minimum of six hours a day of sunshine; well drained, amended soil; good air circulation; and proper fertilizing. Try to avoid competition with roots of nearby trees and shrubs. The hole you dig is extremely important to your ultimate success. It should be slightly deeper than the container (12-18 inches) and considerably wider (18-36 inches) depending on your soil type. The bud union should be at or slightly below ground level because it is vulnerable to dehydration in the summer and freezing in the winter. Add one-third as much peat or compost as excavated soil and blend in an all-purpose fertilizer. Use this mixture to fill the hole after planting and firm the soil around the rose with your hands, don't pack it tightly around the roots and make sure to water deeply.
Until established, roses may need to be watered two or three times a week. Deep watering once a week for well established plants should be sufficient. Keep the leaves dry to help prevent problems with mildew, black spot and rust by watering early in the day and at ground level. Mulch can help to reduce moisture loss, especially during the winter months.
Fertilize established roses at the time of the last killing frost and again in July. Carefully follow instructions for the amount of fertilizer to use as too much can damage plants. Don't fertilize two months before the average date of fall frost because, just like in the spring, you don't want to stimulate new growth that will be vulnerable to the cold.
For pruning, wait until two weeks before the last killing frost date before doing any close pruning because it stimulates new growth that would be vulnerable to late season frost. The first step is to remove the dead or damaged branches. Cut at a 30 to 45 degree angle above a live leaf. Live wood has a white center and green inner bark.
With our high altitude and dry climate, roses don't have many problems with disease. The most important things you can do to reduce the chance of disease are to choose disease resistant stock, select your site and plant carefully, mulch, do fall cleanup, provide winter protection and winter watering.
Some roses can be quite drought tolerant but the plant must first be established, which may take one or more growing seasons. For an extensive list of roses recommended for the Front Range and Fact Sheets with detailed planting and pruning instructions, visit the Extension web page, or call the Colorado State University Extension office in your county.
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