On 29 May 2004 01:24:14 GMT, ojunk (Bethgsd) wrote:

Hi, I've decided to take the plunge and plant roses. I found this newsgroup
about a week ago and am enjoying all the good information. Forgive me if this
is old hat, but I didn't find a FAQ for this group.
I live in zone 7a. Central Virginia. We have already had days in the 90's and
some nasty humidity and thunderstorms. I'm guessing it is too late to plant
roses until the fall if I go the container route, or next spring for bare root.

I try to garden in as organic a manner as possible. I really don't want to
spray if I don't have to. Two roses I've picked out are the Old Blush and
Duchesse de Brabant.

My climbing Old Blush gets blackspot here in Nashville. That will be a
problem if you don't like to spray.

Try Baby Love. It's a great bushy little yellow single bloom rose (it
is a small five petal flat bloom that grows quicky and reblooms). You
might try The Fairy. I've got a climing Fairy right next to my
climbing Old Blush and it doesn't get very much blackspot in
comparison. It *does* get a little blackspot, but it took two years to
see *any* at all.

http://www.pbase.com/image/19899228

This shot is from a year ago. It's almost doubled in size since then.

If you don't mind a once bloomer, try Sweet Briar Rose. In its third
full season, it's already about 18 feet wide and 10 feet tall. It's
also a single bloom five petal rose but it's a beatuiful pink:

http://www.pbase.com/image/29497948

Here's the plant in it's first full season - May 2002:

http://www.pbase.com/image/29498080

And here are two bloom shots:

http://www.pbase.com/image/29498182
http://www.pbase.com/image/29498235

It's finished for the year though. Now it starts its growth cycle. I'm
afraid to guess how much bigger it's going to get.

Would these be good choices for my situation?
What is the best thing to do about Japanese beetles?

I just have to pick them out of the blooms and knock them into a soapy
water glass. I've heard that if you spray Neem oil on the top of your
plants, it repells them. I'm going to try this this year. Neem oil is
totally organic, so you don't have to worry about it. Keep in mind
that it's an oil. Make sure that you spray lightly and don't do it in
the hot sun, or you'll sunburn your canes and leaves.

I'm thinking milky spore
or is there something better?

I've heard that it works well with grubs. Your problem is that your
neighbors' grubs won't be affected. If you have a juicy rose, they'll
comet o you. But it can't hurt. You might also try some of those grub
killing granular things you see in the garden centers about now.

One of the reasons I don't like to spray is that
I have dogs and cats that are allowed run of the yard, so I'm a little hesitant
to use something like grubex.

Ooops. Well, there ya go. Never mind the last part of the previous
paragraph

Are own root roses better than the grafted types?

They will start much smaller, but often times grow quicker. I think
it's really what you're most comfortable with. You've read recently
about rootstock sending its own shoots out (the Dr. Huey threads).
I've got a climbing Cecile Brunner own root and I would have the same
situation that the other poster just talked about.

Is there any stand out website for ordering roses?

My favorites (in no particular order)

Grafted hybrid teas, floribundas and the like: Edmunds Roses
Old roses and the like: Antique Rose Emporium
Unusual Roses: The Uncommon Rose

Since you're in Virginia, you might try Wayside Gardens. I've heard
good things about them, but I've never ordered from them. They're
close (in SC).

Thanks in advance!

Good luck!

Beth
Richmond Va zone 7a