Idiot Proof Roses

Roses have long been the centerpiece of formal gardens. They are a symbol of beauty and love for poets and fo singers as diverse as William Shakespeare and Bette Midler. Oddly enough they were also primitive man’s first barbed wire and were planted as fences to protect field and flock from thief and vandal. Through the ages, countless gardeners have worked their magic and today roses flourish in gardens throughout the world.

Traditional hybrid tea roses are the elegant favorite of formal gardeners and may be found in backyards and patios as well as the spacious lawns of Loose Park. The real question is what roses will do well for Kansas City and are they idiot proof.

High maintenance plants such as the hybrid tea rose do best with regular feedings, pruning and treatment for insects and disease. Like a pampered pet, they reward their keepers with extravagant and elegant blooms. They are a Grass Pad favorite for moms and grand moms alike.

Low maintenance shrub roses have been introduced recently. These new plants require less attention and are less subject to the black spot diseases that plague their more elegant cousins. They are also resistant to powdery mildew and rust and will tolerate the humid summer weather.
 

Shrub roses are extremely versatile and may be; used wherever season long color is desired. Their dependable color will set off the green grass of suburban lawns. They are appropriate border for porch, patio or pool. The flower blossom for shrub roses is smaller than the hybrid teas but displays in everblooming profusion.

Uncle’s Idiot Proof favorite  rose is the Knockout (red or pink). Newer varieties include the Double Knockout (red or pink), Homerun (flame red) and Sunny Yellow Knockout. Groundcover Flower Carpet Roses are available in amber, scarlet, red, pink, and white. Easy Elegance Yellow Submarine and Easy Going are great yellows. Shrub roses are becoming increasingly popular as a low maintenance choice for foundation planting, patio pots, or gardens.

Uncle says shrub roses are not as flashy as their hybrid tea sorority sisters but they certainly are a cheaper date. Shrub roses deliver reliable good looks year after year.