Is this the year to add that rose garden to your landscape? Or would you like to see a colorful rose hedge softening the appearance of a backyard fence or bordering a driveway?
Perhaps you’ve been putting it off, believing that roses are tricky plants to grow and you’re not sure you’re up to the task. Yes, some roses have acquired a reputation for being finicky plants. But if you select the right varieties, you will find they are a lot less demanding than you think.
Roxanne and I particularly like the varieties collectively known as “Knockout Roses.” In fact, we have a Knockout rose hedge at our home that demands very little of our time and attention.
Rose, Knockout Red
If you plant Knockout Red early in the season, you should see impressive repeat blooms the first year. In cooler weather, the blooms are a fluorescent fire-engine red, becoming a deep, dense pink in the heat of summer.
If you live in a humid area or tend to have fairly harsh windy winters, you’ll find Knockout Red to be a hardy plant. Another benefit is that it is very resistant to the dreaded black spot and the tough leaves actually resist Japanese beetles.
Rose, Knockout Pink
If you’d prefer a more delicate color, go for the Knockout Pink. Maturing into a neat 3’ x 3’ shrub, it sports bright pink blooms that stay throughout the growing season into late fall.
The petals fall cleanly so it doesn’t need deadheading. As with other Knockout varieties, the pink is disease-resistant, drought-tolerant and requires only 3 to 4 hours of sunlight a day.
Rose Drift
If any of the Knockout Rose varieties are too tall for your planting area then you should consider the “Drift” variety to accommodate those areas. Think of carpet Roses when you plant the Drift Rose. They top out at about two feet tall and grow laterally. They are just as disease resistant as the Knockouts and come in Red, Pink, Coral, Peach, and White. Ground-cover roses also have become favorites among professional landscape designers. They know these low-growing roses will provide years of performance for their clients. They will bloom about 9-10 months out of the year.
Fairy Rose
While not a member of the Knockout Rose family, this one certainly deserves a mention. The Fairy has been around for a long time, 70 years or more, and can be seen at many of the country’s heritage gardens.
You don’t have to be a dedicated rosarian to create a successful and colorful rose garden. Choose varieties, such as those I’ve described here, that are low-maintenance and disease resistant, and you can enjoy the sight and scent of roses all season with very little effort.
Question: Jimmie, I have Mondo grass as a groundcover under some large shade trees. It has started to move into my stone path and I’d like to know what I can use to kill it that won’t harm the tree roots. Also, how can I contain it so that I won’t have to spray it again? Thank you so much for your time. Sharon L. in Prosper.
Answer: Hi Sharon, The easiest way is to dig a trench at the edge of the bed and install a 4- to 6-inch edging. Baked enamel 4-inch edging works well for many gardeners as long as its driven completely into the soil. Try Round Up or one of its descendants as a spray to control it.
Question: Jimmie, we have several nice beds of Wood Ferns. When is the best time to dig and divide them? Thank you, we really enjoy your columns. Diane and Mark Johnson in McKinney.
Answer: Hi Diane and Mark, Digging and dividing perennial Ferns hinges around the dormant season. Since Wood Ferns die to the ground, you either need to move them before they die completely back or move them at the very tail end of winter. If you choose the latter, you have to do so before they start sending out new sprouts of growth in early spring. Until next time…Happy Gardening!!