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Hot Hybrid Roses

Foolproof roses? Well, almost. A new crop of hybrid roses is set to hit Dallas this month. They are disease resistant, bloom from midsummer on, and come in bold, brilliant colors. 
By Loyd Zisk |

When a new hybrid hits nurseries, it’s actually not new at all. It can take 10 years for a grower to develop a specimen worthy of cultivation. Even after years of testing it for anything from blooming cycles to summer and winter hardiness, it’s up to the rose wholesalers to choose those hybrids they think will be a hit with the public. “There is always a quest to develop the perfect rose,” says Larry J. Burks, vice president of Tyler-based grower Certified Rose and one of the country’s top rose specialists. “This year, I am putting out three beautiful new hybrids, each destined to be a winner in its own right.”

1. CRIMSON FLAME Features mass clusters of crimson blooms with muted pale pink and cream stripes, medium green, disease-resistant foliage, and recurrent blooming traits.2. RED BARON A tall growing, exhibition-formed red hybrid tea rose that blooms throughout the season.3. DAWNING MOMENT A cherry red and cream blended hybrid tea rose that offers medium to long height and long stems suitable for cutting. It features large dark green, disease-resistant foliage and blooms in cycles all season.

These roses are so new on the scene that they aren’t yet listed in Modern Roses, the annually updated book that tracks every type of rose. But that doesn’t mean that local nurseries and gardening shops aren’t anxiously awaiting their spring arrival. And if wholesaler and local rosarian predictions are on target, they’ll be blooming all over Dallas by midsummer.

GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR ROSES  Dallas isn’t exactly the most hospitable landscape for roses, but with a little prep work and some TLC during the brutal summer months, your roses will thrive.
Prepare your soil. Dallas soil, aka gumbo,”  is hard clay that
sits on layers of limestone
and poses many challenges
for rose enthusiasts. Use
balanced, rich, and porous
soils to give roots adequate food and oxygen and to allow drainage. Recommended blends combine compost, local soil, sand, and microorganisms that improve disease resistance. Look into online purchase and delivery
from soilbuildingsystems.com. 

Fertilize in February and May. Organic fertilizer mixes that
contain trace elements work
best to stimulate growth. Use pellet and time-release products to ease the food into the soil and help avoid pesky animal damage.

Fertilizers from Blue Bonnet Farms are a good choice and are available at most nurseries and garden shops.

Water, water, water. Rosarian rule of thumb: Don’t plant more than you can adequately water by hand or drip irrigation. In the heat of the summer, a rose will take 3 gallons of water a day. In cooler temperatures, watering three times a week is enough. Use a water gauge (available at any nursery) to monitor your soil dampness. Water in the morning rather than afternoon or evening.

Prune and cut regularly. Take off about a third of established plants at the beginning of the growing season. Once flowers have bloomed, cut down to the first or second set of leaves on a regular basis to keep the plant blooming. Strive for morning sun and cross ventilation. Too much afternoon sun results in smaller, faded blooms. Aim for six hours of morning rays and cross winds to help prevent fungal problems such as mildew and black spot.

 

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