Old garden roses need very little care
By BECKY SMITH Master gardner

Old-fashioned roses like the Archduke Charles will be available for sale during the Wharton Hidden Garden Tour.

As a gardener, I love Old Garden Roses, antique roses. They are grown on their own roots and have been around for many years.

As Mike Shoup, owner of Antique Rose Emporium says, "If dead people can grow them, anyone can!"

They have been found growing in cemeteries, abandoned home sites, and surviving severe weather conditions.

Old roses are proven to be disease resistant and drought tolerant, while requiring minimal care once established.

Spraying harmful insecticides and fungicides is not necessary.

Plant the roses in well drained soil and water for a few weeks to establish a good root system.

It is also most important to keep your roses mulched to help control weeds and maintain moisture in the soil.

Then, on Valentine's Day, prune them back for healthier and stronger bushes that will be ready to begin the blooming season.

Some people prune again on Labor Day to encourage beautiful fall blooms.

When you prune, make sure to cut out all the dead wood and any canes that cross over each other.

The center of the bush needs to be open for good air circulation.

On the Wharton Hidden Garden Tour this year, the Texas Rose Rustlers will be selling several varieties of Old Garden Roses at 662 Mesquite Hills.

They will be sold for $10 a bush, which is a once-in-a-lifetime deal, for such quality roses that will do great in our area with very little care.