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Outdoor Roses (Will grow in various locations)

Roses will grow in various locations provided they receive full sunshine for at least half of the day, but will respond wonderfully if they are given a south or southeastern exposure well away from neighboring tree roots which not only tend to shade the garden but also rob the plant food and moisture from the soil. Sunshine coupled with a free circulation of fresh air are necessary for health; low, damp hollows in which early and late frosts settle are to be avoided in the choice of a site for the rose garden, the late spring frosts being especially harmful.

It is advisable to have some windbrake to the north or northwest, such as a group of trees, buildings, or anything which will serve as a partial protection from violent winds. Trees may be calculated upon to spread their roots to a distance equalling their height; for instance, if the surrounding trees are 30 feet high the garden should be placed at least 30 feet distant from the tree trunks. Sometimes, however, it is not possible to do this, in which case it is well to sink a wall of [119] concrete or bricks along the edge of the beds nearest the trees. The wall can be very easily constructed when the rose bed is being made; it should have a thickness of 6 inches and extend from the bottom of the bed to within a few inches of the surface of the ground. Wooden planks are sometimes used for this purpose, but naturally, they are not so permanent as bricks or concrete as they decompose in time and the tree roots will gradually penetrate, making renewal necessary every few years.

The design of the beds to be prepared for planting purposes must be given careful thought. Needless to say, any design that fits into the landscape scheme is desirable. Rectangular beds that are wide enough to accommodate a double row of plants are the easiest to work among. This avoids the inconvenience of having to tread through the bed when cultivating, spraying or picking the flowers. For hybrid perpetuals beds made 4 feet wide will prove a satisfactory width, whereas teas and hybrid teas require less space, beds 3 feet wide being sufficient. When the plan of the garden is decided upon, stake out the beds, using stout stakes, and outline them with heavy tarred string. In this way one may obtain a more or less clear idea of how the garden will look before any actual digging begins and changes can be more readily made if desired. [120] Courtesy of J. Horace McFarland Company