Tag Archive for: Fall

Spring Planting Own-Root Roses in the Desert Garden

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planting own root roses red roses

Planting Own-Root Roses in the Desert: A Blooming Success Story

Have you seen roses growing in a desert garden? What about own-root roses?

When I talk with desert dwellers, many are convinced that roses cannot grow in our hot, dry climate. However, that just isn’t true. I experience a certain kind of joy when I share with them that they can grow roses in the desert.

I’ve done it since the early 90s, and roses are what began my desert garden journey.

Year-Round Rose Planting

Typically, when people think of planting roses in the desert, they think of winter because that’s when we can plant bare-root roses. But did you know we can plant roses at other times of the year?

Own-root roses expand the planting season, which can be planted in spring and fall.

planting own root roses in package

The Allure of Own-Root Roses

So, what are own-root roses? Most roses are grafted, which means that the rose consists of two different rose plants (the above-ground part of the rose, which is grated onto the rootstock of another rose). In comparison, own-root roses are grown from cuttings and grow on their own roots.

Usually, you can purchase roses in three forms – bare-root, nursery container, and own-root. I’ve bought and grown roses successfully in all those forms in my garden.

However, I do have a preference for own-root vs. grafted roses for the following reasons:

  • They are hardier and live longer than grafted roses.
  • There is no danger of suckers from the rootstock growing and choking out the rose plant.
  • You aren’t restricted to winter-only planting.
  • They have healthier root systems than nursery-grown container grafted roses.
planting own root roses pink

Tips for Planting Own-Root Roses

Spring and fall are great times to add own-root roses to your garden! It’s important to avoid planting roses in the summer because the intense heat makes if difficult for roses to become established.

So, if you are ready to enjoy the beauty of roses in your garden, here are some things to keep in mind:

Location for roses:

Plant in an area that receives approximately 5-6 hours of sunlight. Avoid west-facing exposures, which are stressful for roses. East-facing exposures are best or areas where there is afternoon shade. Roses can tolerate full sun all day as long as they aren’t close to places with reflected heat such as walls, sidewalks, or driveways.

Make sure there is room for the rose to grow – about 4 feet away from surrounding plants.

 

planting own root roses in soil

How to plant own root roses

  1. Water your rose in its container thoroughly- you want the entire root ball to be wetted. 
  2. Dig a hole two 2 1/2 feet wide and about 2 feet deep. Amend the existing soil with 1 part compost mixed with 1 part existing soil. Then add a handful of bone meal and mix in. *You can add some worm castings (earthworm poop) to the planting hole if desired, which is beneficial to roses.
  3. Once your soil mixture is ready in the large hole, create a smaller hole to fit your new own-root rose. Carefully remove the container from the rose and place it in the hole. Fill in the hole and tamp down the soil with your hands.
  4. Water the rose deeply.
  5. Apply a 3-inch layer of mulch, such as bark chips, around the rose, extending 2 feet from the base of the rose. Avoid using landscape rock (gravel) up against the rose, which isn’t ideal.
  6. In spring, water daily if temperatures are over 90 degrees. Otherwise, water every 3 days. You’ll soon see new growth forming.
  7. Don’t fertilize your new rose right away – wait until they have produced their first flowers and then fertilize with an organic rose fertilizer in spring or early fall.

 

Where to Find Own-Root Roses

If you want to plant roses this spring (or fall), I recommend using own-root roses.

Most nurseries and mail-order rose growers don’t carry them. However, I’ve grown roses from Heirloom Roses which has a vast collection of own-root roses. In fact, that is the only type of rose they sell.

You will find many popular varieties of roses in all different forms – climbers, David Austin® roses, hybrid tea, floribundas, and more so that you can go about planting own-root roses in your garden.

They have a section of heat-tolerant roses for you to browse for the perfect one for your garden! Many of my favorites, such as Chicago Peace, Color Magic, Darcey Bussell, Mister Lincoln, and so many more, are listed.

Growing roses has brought me a lot of joy and I hope it does for you too!

Celebrating “Second Spring” in the Southwest Garden

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Cultivating Wildflowers: Nature’s Colorful Display

Rediscovering the Desert’s Beauty in Fall

As summer begins to slowly fade and the heat begins to dissipate, the Southwestern garden comes alive with second spring.

"Second Spring" in the Southwest Garden

In the absence of scorching 100+ degree temperatures, both plants and people reawaken to the vibrant beauty of the desert landscape during the fall season.

The Allure of Autumn is “Second Spring”

When people talk about their favorite season, many will tell you that spring is the time that they enjoy the most as their gardens come alive, spring forth with new green growth and colorful blooms. But in the desert Southwest, there’s another season that deserves just as much acclaim – fall, often referred to as the “second spring.”

Sky Flower (Duranta erecta) during second spring

Sky Flower (Duranta erecta)

While spring is a glorious time in the desert landscape with winter blooms overlapping with spring flowering plants along with cactus flowers – it isn’t the only ‘spring’ that the desert experiences.

"second spring" garden beauty in the desert Southwest

A Season of Renewal

Fall in the desert brings a rejuvenating touch. The cooler temperatures breathe new life into plants, coaxing them into refreshed appearances and prolonging their flowering displays. Irrigation becomes less of a chore. Birds, butterflies, and various wildlife also make a prominent return during the daytime hours.

The Great Outdoors Beckons

With the arrival of fall, desert residents find themselves irresistibly drawn outdoors. Whether it’s leisurely walks, al fresco dining, or simply working outdoors, the comfortable temperatures and captivating landscapes make every moment spent outside a delight.

"second spring" pathway in the desert Southwest

Fall is the ideal season for making alterations to your garden. It’s the perfect time to replace thirsty, old plants with drought-tolerant alternatives or expand your outdoor living space by adding new features like patios or pergolas.

Flame Acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus v. wrightii) during second spring

Flame Acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus v. wrightii) 

Second Spring Planting for the Future

Regardless of your garden’s location, fall stands as the prime season for introducing new plants to your landscape. With three growing seasons ahead, it offers them the opportunity to establish robust root systems before the next scorching summer arrives.

No matter what garden region you live in – second spring is the best time of year to add new plants to the landscape as it provides plants with three seasons in which to grow a good root system before the heat of the next summer arrives.

**Thinking of making some changes to your landscape?  Click here for a list my favorite drought tolerant plants that provide fall blooms.  

Silvery, Purple Beauty

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violet silverleaf (Leucophyllum candid)

At first glance, violet Silverleaf (Leucophyllum candid) may look like a nice gray shrub with a smattering of purple flowers.

BUT, when you crank up the humidity and add some summer rain into the mix and it really explodes with color…

purple beauty

These shrubs literally stop people in their tracks with their purple beauty.

(Leucophyllum candid) is easy to grow in arid climates and when not in flower, its gray foliage provides great color contrast in the landscape.

Find out more about this Texas native and why you’ll want to include it in your garden in my latest plant profile for Houzz.com:

 

Have you ever seen this shrub growing?  Do you have one in your landscape?

A Rose Garden Garden Fit For a Castle?

Are You Ready For Fall?

Earlier this week, we were at my mother’s house for our traditional Tuesday night dinner.  I love having one night off a week from making dinner and it is nice to hang out with my siblings and their families, who also come. However, as I entered the house, I saw my mother’s beautiful fall display on her dining room table…

beautiful fall display

It is pretty, isn’t it?

Many of the gourds she grew herself and I like how she placed bare branches in mason jars.

Now, while I was admiring her display, I realized that I haven’t done anything to get ready for fall in my house, not to mention my garden.

So, this weekend, I will add a few bags of manure and compost to my vegetable gardens along with a sprinkling of bone and blood meal. Hopefully, I will be planting seeds and transplants soon – I promise to let you know what I plant.

In the meantime, I will gather my younger kids together and pull out our Fall / Halloween decorations (if I can just remember where I stored them 😉

When will you plant your fall garden and do you decorate your home for fall?

Great Small Shrub for Fall: Autumn Sage

Start Your Own Lettuce Seedlings in Recycled Plastic Containers

Fall is definitely in the air.  I can stand outside and feel a slight coolness to the breeze, which I love.

This is my favorite time of year.  One of the many reasons is that it is time to get ready to plant my fall vegetable garden.

lettuce

One of my favorite vegetables to grow is lettuce.  It is so nice to be able to step out into the garden and snip off fresh, delicious lettuce leaves for our dinner salad.

To get a head start on my lettuce, I planted the seeds indoors.  The reason is, is that lettuce seeds need temperatures below 80 degrees in order to germinate.

my fall vegetable garden

After a few weeks growing indoors, I will be able to transplant them out into my garden.

Growing lettuce is very easy and you don’t need many supplies to start them indoors.  I used plastic food containers that I had been saving.

Why don’t you join me and grow your own lettuce too?  You don’t have to have a vegetable plot.  Lettuce grows just fine in containers or even in a recyclable grocery bag.

my fall vegetable garden

Fall vegetable garden

For how to start lettuce seeds indoors, check out my latest Birds & Blooms blog post – “Grow Your Own Lettuce in Recycled Containers”.

I hope you will grow some lettuce with me!

Is It Fall Yet?

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My favorite season is fall.  What do I love about fall, you may ask?

It’s not the colorful leaves….

Autumn color in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina

Autumn color in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina

Now before you think I am crazy, let me explain…

Fall foliage begins to make it's appearance in Williamsburg, VA

Fall foliage begins to make it’s appearance in Williamsburg, VA.

I have never lived anywhere that had lots of trees turn color.

I grew up in Southern California and I now live in Arizona.

I do love visiting areas with lovely fall foliage, but I don’t connect fall with leaves turning color.

My favorite season

Fall signifies for me, the beginning of holidays AND cooler weather after a hot summer.

This year, we are hosting the entire family’s Halloween celebration at our house because we have the best neighborhood for trick-or-treating.

I have been hand-making some new Halloween decorations – some of which have turned out pretty good.

Monday, my mother is coming out and we are going to try making paper-mache pumpkins.

I’m not sure how they will turn out….but it will be fun to try.  I promise I’ll share our results 🙂