A David Austin Rose, 'The Squire,' tipped with hoarfrost. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

So, what do we do in the rose garden in December? This month is a month of rest. The only chore for the rose garden is to water (except when we have received enough rainfall). The city of Fresno allows watering once a week during the winter. Other cities in Fresno County are different, so pay attention to the local ordinances and only water on your specified day(s), when necessary. 

Now is the time that rose companies and nurseries will start to carry their new roses for the coming spring. Look and see if there are any new roses you might like to add to your garden. If you happen to purchase a rose at a big box store, try to get them as soon as they arrive in the store. Those roses are typically wrapped in plastic and they will begin to grow inside. If the staff at the store can't get water to the roots of those roses, the canes will turn brown and start to die. Therefore, freshness is important!

When you get your plant home, fill up a 5-gallon bucket with water and put it in a cool and dark place. Carefully remove remove and discard any packing material. Many of these roses come wrapped in moist, shredded newspapers, wood shavings, etc. Place the now bare roots in the water and fill up with water up to the bud union of the plant. The bud union is the round area where the canes are growing. 

Leave the rose in the water for 24 hours. This will allow the rose to rehydrate. The next day, you can plant your rose in a 5-gallon pot (with holes on the bottom) filled with good potting soil and place it in a shaded area. If you are able to work the soil in your yard and know where you want your rose to ultimately live, go ahead and plant it in the ground. If you notice, before planting, that any of the roots are broken, cut the broken parts off with sharp, clean shears. The bud union should be just above the soil line. Make sure you spread the roots out. Don't plant them in a little clump. I like to make a volcano shape in the soil, place the rose on the top of it and then spread the roots down around that shape, and fill in with the remaining soil. 

I also spread some mycorrhizal fungi in the soil before I plant the rose. What is mycorrhizal fungi? It is a beneficial fungi that forms a symbiotic relationship with the plant roots. This relationship increases the plant's ability to absorb nutrients and water from the soil.   

There is no need to fertilize your established or new roses currently. Fertilize when your roses show new growth in the spring. If you decide to keep your rose planted in a container, rather than in the ground, make sure when the weather turns warm/hot, that your potted plant gets morning sun and afternoon shade.

Since we are in our rain and fog season, you might see some gray fuzz on your rose buds. This is botrytis. You might also see some black spots on your leaves. That disease is called black spot (original name, huh?). Here is some information from UC Agriculture and Natural Resources regarding diseases you may see this time of year: Roses: Diseases and Abiotic Disorders. 

Until next time, "It's ok to feel delicate sometimes. Real beauty is in the fragility of your petals. A rose that never wilts isn't a rose at all.” ~ Crystal Woods