Hi, All:
Again...
I live in zone 7, maybe 7a, 45 miles from the Pentagon. A nursery owner here says I can forget about growing roses. Says the humidity is just too much.
I never have rose success unless it’s with Knockouts.
Is he right? Is it just too much trouble, and is humidity the cause.
He’s owned the nursery for 39 years; I gotta believe he knows a thing or two.
Thanks
I know people who grow roses in the deep south. BUT it’s nearly a full time job involving LOTS of chemicals and effort. I grow knockouts for that reason. I can’t afford the chemicals and would rather spend the time growing food. YMMV.
Well, he probably does know a lot, so I wouldn’t argue about it. I would do a search though on roses vs humidity. Perhaps there are some that are better suited than others.
The only roses that I am growing are the Rosa Rugosa, because they have olive sized Rose hips.
Listen to the nursery owner, regional advice by local professionals is ALWAYS the best source of information.
Avoid the 'big box store' where the guy just came from plumbing dept. to answer your question.
I have about 15 horticultural books for reference, and probably 1/4 of those deal with problems specific to roses.
Listen to the local nursery professional who deals with the horticultural problems daily, and has to replace any unsatisfactory plant stock.
Look at the new Watercolors rose. Changes colors all day. Mine are doing great, along with my Knockouts. I go with the single-bloom, which is more fragrant, an antique, really, rather than the double rose.
Is there a reason you don’t want to go with the knockouts? 30 years ago I had about a dozen rosebushes of different kinds/colors in my front yard. They took a lot of feeding and watering in dry Texas heat but I did enjoy them at the time. Now, hubby is wanting roses but if we get some I am definitely going with the less work intensive knockouts.