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Earth Kind roses mean little care
"Earth Kind uses researchproven techniques to provide maximum gardening and landscape enjoyment while preserving and protecting our environment," say experts at Texas A&M University. Earth Kind Roses have been extensively tested under the direction and supervision of Texas A & M horticultural experts. The few roses receiving the Earth Kind designation have been scientifically proven to do well in most any type of soils, from well drained acid sands to poorly aerated highly alkaline clays. Roses studied in this research program were: Never sprayed with fungicides, pesticides, insecticides or Neem oil. Never fertilized with commercial or synthetic fertilizers. Never pruned or deadheaded (except to remove dead wood). Not watered after the first year of growth (Drip irrigation was provided for the first year only). The roses did receive a 3-inch layer of mulch during the entire study. According to the studies, the Earth Kind designations have been scientifically proven to reduce the need for applications of pesticides/fungicides by 98 percent and reduce the need for supplemental watering by 70 percent. Their tolerance to pest and disease is so great that you will almost never need to apply harsh pesticides to these roses. As with any rose, Earth Kind varieties should be: Planted in an area that receives at least 8 hours of direct sunlight each day with good air circulation. Maintain a 3-inch layer of native hardwood mulch to guard against moisture loss and help reduce weed growth. (Roses which are growing on their own roots (not grafted) which have received the Earth Kind Designation are: Belinda's Dream: a pink Shrub rose that has very fragrant double blooms (almost 100 petals) on an average mature size of 5X5-feet. Caldwell Pink: a lilac pink Found rose with pom-pom shaped double blooms on an average mature size of 4X4-feet. Carefree Beauty (a.k.a. Katy Road Pink): a medium pink Shrub rose by Dr. Griffith Buck with semi-double blooms on an average mature size of 5X4- feet. Climbing Pinkie: a pink Polyantha that has semi-double fragrant blooms. Grown as a climber this rose will reach 10-feet; as a shrub, the mature plant size is 5X7-feet. Ducher: a China rose with double ivory white blooms with a fruity tea fragrance on a mature bush 3 to 5X3-feet. Duchesse de Brabant: a very fragrant, rose pink Tea rose on a mature size bush of 6X4-feet. Else Poulsen: a pink Floribunda rose introduced in 1924. Semi-double blooms on a mature size bush of 5X5-feet. Georgetown Tea: strong tea fragrant, dark salmon pink blooms on a mature size bush of 3 to 5X4-feet. Knock Out: cherry red Shrub rose with semi-double blooms on a mature size bush of 4X4-feet. Madame Antoine Mari: a Tea rose with fragrant pink blends of blooms on a mature size bush 4 to 6X4-feet. Marie Daly: pink Polyantha rose with fragrant semi-double blooms on a mature size bush of 3X3-feet. Mutabilis (a.k.a. the Butterfly Rose): a China rose that has single-petaled blooms which change colors from yellow to pink to crimson on a mature size bush of 6X6-feet. New Dawn: a fragrant, blush pink Climber that reaches 15 to 20-feet tall and 8 to 20-feet wide. Perle d' Or: a peach Polyantha rose with fragrant pom-pom shaped, double blooms on a matue sized bush of 4X4-feet. Seafoam: a creamy white Shrub rose with double blooms on a mature sized bush of 3X6- feet. Spice: a blush pink Chinatype rose with semi-double blooms on a mature sized bush of 5X4-feet. The Fairy: a light pink Polyantha rose with double blooms on a mature sized bush of 3X4- feet. One of my favorites is Belinda's Dream, a great cutting rose. During the Wharton Hidden Garden Tour, at 662 Mesquite Hills, many of these Earth Kind Roses will be on sale by the Texas Rose Rustlers. They will be $10 for most varieties and $12 for Knock Out Roses, which is a once-in-a-lifetime bargain for such quality roses. References: 1. Earth Kind Roses by Houston Rose Society; 2. Texas A&M University, Aggie Horticulture, Earth Kind Roses. |
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