Knockout Roses at Epcot Center in Walt Disney World.<\/p><\/div>\n
2002
Another day in suburbia.\u00a0 You pack the kids\/spouse\/grandkids in the car and head out to do a little shopping.\u00a0 Fighting past traffic you pull into the Mall\/Galleria\/Shopping Center parking lot, thinking to yourself it\u2019s another day of cookie cutter stores\/restaurants\/coffee shops.\u00a0 When suddenly your eye is caught by something so unexpected, so unusual, so out of place you want to pick up the phone and call the folks at Ripley\u2019s Believe It Or Not.\u00a0 That color, that form and yes \u2013 could it even be fragrance?\u00a0 Could these plants blooming in the midst of an exhaust vaporized, asphalt heated parking lot actually be roses!<\/p>\n
There is a good chance they might be.\u00a0 And a good chance you might begin to see roses in commercial landscape settings more often in the future.\u00a0 As tough new varieties are introduced and tough old roses are re-discovered, more commercial landscape architects are turning to roses to provide a visual feast for the eyes of folks whose lives\u2019 bring them in daily contact with these urban settings.<\/p>\n
For many years roses have been considered unable to grow anywhere but in a coddled back yard.\u00a0 Rose introducers in this country did not help by bringing to market mostly roses that fit the myth.\u00a0 Anyone who did landscaping in a commercial setting would never dream of including roses in their plan.\u00a0 Instead, rugged shrubs and ground covers were the order of the day.\u00a0 Tough, green, but not something to give the eye a visual respite from hard surfaces such as walls and sidewalks. \u00a0Yet recently, a group of designers lead by among others the Dutchman Piet Oudolf began to introduce color and texture through the use of plants such as ornamental grasses.\u00a0 Other designers have also begun to cast their eyes about for additional plants to light up these otherwise mundane settings.\u00a0 Roses are obvious, but are there varieties that could handle these stressful conditions?<\/p>\n
In this country enter the Jackson & Perkins Simplicity Roses.\u00a0 J&P broke ground by introducing folks in the United States to the concept of roses that need little, if any care.\u00a0 From there the Meilland series, The Town and Country roses of Poulsen, the Flower Carpet Series and others are all collectively convincing people roses can survive in a commercial setting.<\/p>\n
For The American Rose Society and its ambassadors in the form of the members of the hundreds of local Rose Societies, this is a golden opportunity to reverse the trend of roses being used less and less by gardening enthusiasts.\u00a0 And also to bring these gardening enthusiasts into your Local and our National Rose Society.\u00a0 A Gardening Enthusiast is not necessarily a rosarian (even though many rosarians are Gardening Enthusiasts).\u00a0 Gardening Enthusiasts are folks who grow lots of different kinds of trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs, vegetables and herbs \u2013 all the while seeking to integrate all these different plants into their garden as a whole.\u00a0 They are the fastest growing group of gardeners out there, but alas they shun roses because of the myths.\u00a0 So as your local rose society plans community gardens try one in a commercial setting.\u00a0 Show folks just how tough the plant we all love can be.<\/p>\n
Landscaping in a Commercial setting has a different set of requirements than landscaping on private property.\u00a0 Before you attempt to bring roses to your local mall check with city officials about codes for commercial landscaping.\u00a0\u00a0 Things like height, width, use of sprays, proximity to parking spaces, walkways will be regulated.\u00a0 Roses have thorns and that needs to be taken into consideration in areas where children might be.\u00a0 A maximum height is important where cars turn in and out of parking aisles, because sight lines cannot be blocked.\u00a0 Chemical sprays are very carefully regulated in these settings for obvious reasons.\u00a0 Taking the time to get familiar with these codes will help you when trying to convince the person in charge roses will work in their setting.<\/p>\n
The requirements for roses in a commercial setting are the same as in your backyard but maybe even more so.\u00a0 Good air movement will be needed so exhaust fumes doesn\u2019t settle into the rose bed area.\u00a0 Go for a sunny area, as roses do like all day sun.\u00a0 Ignore any claims about shade tolerance in a setting such as this.\u00a0 Besides all commercial areas have plenty of sunny spots.\u00a0 An area with a grass border would be good because it will buffer some of the heat from the asphalt.\u00a0 According to the weatherman it might be 90 degrees, outside but down on the parking lot it might be 110.<\/p>\n
Check with the folks who do maintenance on the site you are looking at.\u00a0 Ask if the area floods and water sits during heavy rains. All commercial landscape sites have strict drainage requirements and you want to make sure the roses are not planted in area where a potential rain torrent will wash away that fresh layer of mulch.\u00a0 If you live in an area where it snows make sure the snowplows don\u2019t stack the snow there in 15\u2019 drifts.\u00a0 While the insulation might be good for the roses, a 6\u2019 pile of wet slush being pushed onto any plant is a recipe for disaster.\u00a0 Make sure you are not making maintenance more difficult (i.e. grass cutting) for these folks.\u00a0 They are usually stretched thin as it is and you don\u2019t want to get on their bad side.\u00a0 Ultimately they are going to be the ones keeping a daily eye on the roses and you want them as allies.\u00a0 Above all make sure the roses are close to a source of water.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take a moment to talk about watering in a commercial setting.\u00a0 Chances are you might get nothing better than a blast from a pop-up Rainbird.\u00a0 If you are allowed to design a custom irrigation system bubblers are best.\u00a0 I love drip irrigation but the emitters can clog and no one will be watching for this to happen until it\u2019s too late.\u00a0 Any kind of flood bubbler that will not clog is the way to go.\u00a0 Remember, the idea is to plant it and forget about it.\u00a0 Whatever choices you are given try to convince the maintenance folks early morning watering is best if they don\u2019t do it already.\u00a0 This applies to any plant \u2013 not just roses.\u00a0 Plus these kinds of irrigation systems can be buried or hidden under mulch.\u00a0 Also when you plant use water polymers to get the roses through the times when the irrigation system breaks down or someone forgets to adjust it when the temperatures go up by 20 degrees over two days.<\/p>\n
Soil requirements are the same as for any rose bed or for that matter, garden bed.\u00a0 Soil that drains well and is full or organics always works the best.\u00a0 Use plenty of bone meal, adjust for PH if needed, and always use a heavy layer of mulch.\u00a0 Besides keeping weeds down it also keeps the soil moist and at an even temperature.\u00a0 The best line of defense against disease for any plant is its own health, and good soil is a primary part of that.\u00a0 You might also think about putting down weedcloth, as weeding is not usually high on the maintenance list.<\/p>\n
As these commercial landscaping roses don\u2019t need much fertilizer stick to time released fertilizers.\u00a0 There are many good ones on the market, but find one that matches the length of your growing season.\u00a0 If you live in a northern climate with a shorter growing season you don\u2019t want to apply an 8-10 month formula, as it will be releasing nitrogen when the roses should be shutting down for the winter.\u00a0 Check with your local garden center or consulting rosarian to see what they recommend.\u00a0 Seasonal applications of things like Epson Salts are always helpful but remember, theses roses are best left to their own devices and doing too much can actually be more harmful than helpful.<\/p>\n
While roses for the Commercial Landscape should ideally rarely need spraying we do not live in an ideal world and the time might arise when this needs to done.\u00a0 Be aware that every state I know of will require a commercial applicators license to apply sprays in a public setting.\u00a0\u00a0 Again, check with local officials and whatever you do don\u2019t try to get around this by spraying at 2 AM in secret.\u00a0 Most commercial settings forward thinking enough to include roses in their landscape will have a good, well-educated garden staff that includes a licensed applicator.\u00a0 Work with and advise them on what to spray if needed and make sure what you are spraying is permitted in a public setting.<\/p>\n
Every landscaper has a different style of planting so if you are advising a professional stick to assisting him or her with varieties and allow their vision to be the ultimate aesthetic picture.\u00a0 But if you do get a chance to design the bed, you are advised to severely limit the amount of varieties and to plant in broad sweeps.\u00a0 And broad sweeps means dozens of the same variety planted in mass together.\u00a0 Generally in settings such as these you work in heights.\u00a0 For example an island bed viewed on all sides might be a ring of lower growing roses surrounding a group of taller ones.\u00a0 Pick just two varieties, one short and one tall and use only them.\u00a0 Don\u2019t give into the temptation to fill the center with dozens of different kinds of roses.\u00a0 Commercial landscaping is about quick, first impressions and fussy planting is the antithesis of this.\u00a0 Be aware of foliage size, texture and color.\u00a0 Try to pick roses that have interesting forms of all of these, as it will add another layer of interest.\u00a0 Rugosas have wonderful foliage texture and they certainly are rugged – great combination for a commercial setting.<\/p>\n
Now that we\u2019ve covered the basics let\u2019s talk about roses.\u00a0 What constitutes the ideal rose for the commercial landscape?\u00a0 While there are many thoughts here would be my list of requirements<\/p>\n
\nEver-blooming.\u00a0 This is something that is going to be seen year around so the longer the roses are in bloom the better.\u00a0 The exception being northern climates where the bloom season goes from June to September.\u00a0 Say parts of zone 5 and lower.\u00a0 Think Albas!<\/li>\n Self-controlled growth.\u00a0 A rose that is supposed to be 3\u2019 and stays that way is needed.\u00a0 Again, the idea is easy care and having to constantly trim the roses to keep them within height codes is not much fun.<\/li>\n Self-deadheading.\u00a0 I think this is important.\u00a0 Spent blooms that hang on a bush are not attractive and unlike our personal gardens no one will be deadheading these on a regular basis.<\/li>\n Disease Resistant.\u00a0 Goes without saying<\/li>\n Doesn\u2019t need pruning.\u00a0 Again, no one will have the time to do it.\u00a0 Many roses don\u2019t like being pruned so if we can eliminate this part of maintenance it will be for the better.<\/li>\n Appropriate for the climate.\u00a0 This seems obvious but give some thought to it.\u00a0 Tender roses that re-bloom are wonderful but they will not survive a winter.\u00a0 That Portland Roses might look good in your Southern backyard but it will not be happy in a warm-humid commercial setting.\u00a0 However it will be ideal for a northern setting where it can get the climate it likes.\u00a0 If you are not sure if a rose will naturally like your climate check with other local rose folks.\u00a0 They\u2019ll know.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nBelow are classes and individual roses I and other folks I\u2019ve talked to feel are good choices for the Commercial Landscape.\u00a0 As you peruse the list keep in mind the things we talked about.\u00a0 But most of all make sure you pick roses that will show off our favorite plant at its best.\u00a0 Chances are these are going to be many folks first glimpse of these new breeds of roses, and if successful will go a long way to convincing folks that roses are a lot tougher than the myths make them out to be.\u00a0 Who knows, maybe we can get some of our fellow gardening enthusiasts to include them in their perennial borders!<\/p>\n
As a general guideline the following classes will work for Commercial Landscape Use.\u00a0 Please keep in mind that some individual varieties in these classes will be better than others.\u00a0 As always check with fellow rose growers in your area.<\/p>\n
Alba.\u00a0 Good for zone 5 or lower \u2013 these are cold hardy and very rugged.\u00a0 The give a heavy spring bloom for about 4 weeks and bear wonderful foliage the rest of the year.<\/p>\n
China Roses.\u00a0 Heavy re-bloomers. Short in stature and strong colors make these wonderful roses for commercial applications.\u00a0 Zone 7 or higher only.<\/p>\n
Floribunda.\u00a0 There are a lot of roses in this class.\u00a0 Some are gems and some are duds but do some hunting because some of these are great.\u00a0 Some can handle zone 5.<\/p>\n
Hybrid Rugosa.\u00a0 I\u2019d only advise these for zone 6 or lower.\u00a0 They are rugged, repeat blooming, have wonderful foliage but do not like heat.\u00a0 These are used heavily in Europe in median strips.<\/p>\n
Polyantha.\u00a0 Some are quite hardy and their re-bloom and short stature make them a great choice.\u00a0 Some can handle zone 5.<\/p>\n
Portland.\u00a0 About 4-5\u2019 in average height, re-blooming and very fragrant.\u00a0 Again zone 6 or lower as they do better in cool weather.<\/p>\n
Tea Roses.\u00a0 Only for zone 7 or higher, these roses re-bloom heavily and give little trouble in terms of care.<\/p>\n
As to individual varieties here are some that should do quite well for you.\u00a0 They are available from growers like Arena Rose Company, Ashdown Roses, Edmunds Roses, Jackson & Perkins and Weeks Roses to name a few.<\/p>\n
Here are some roses we all like.\u00a0 I\u2019ve given class names for those in general commerce and class names for those from specific nurseries.\u00a0 Mutabilis (China).\u00a0 Starry Night (Edmunds Roses). Amber Queen (Floribunda).\u00a0\u00a0 New Zealand (Hybrid Tea \u2013 Edmunds Roses).\u00a0 Lynnie\u00a0 (Ashdown Roses).\u00a0\u00a0 Monticello (Arena Rose Company).\u00a0 Robusta (Hybrid Rugosa).\u00a0 Jacques Cartier (Portland).\u00a0 Friends Forever (Ashdown Roses \u2013 zone 6 or below).\u00a0 The Gift and The Gift x Sweet Chariot (Ashdown Roses).\u00a0 Versailles Palace (Arena Rose Company).\u00a0 Wild Dancer (Jackson Perkins).\u00a0 Little Butterfly (Ashdown Roses).\u00a0 Sally Holmes (Shrub).<\/p>\n
These are but a few of the many more roses available for the commercial landscape.\u00a0 Check with your local rose society or favorite rose grower for other suggestions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
2002 Paul Zimmerman Another day in suburbia.\u00a0 You pack the kids\/spouse\/grandkids in the car and head out to do a little shopping.\u00a0 Fighting past traffic you pull into the Mall\/Galleria\/Shopping Center parking lot, thinking to yourself it\u2019s another day of cookie cutter stores\/restaurants\/coffee shops.\u00a0 When suddenly your eye is caught by something so unexpected, so […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":309,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P2XcPG-51","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paulzimmermanroses.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/311"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paulzimmermanroses.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paulzimmermanroses.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paulzimmermanroses.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paulzimmermanroses.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=311"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paulzimmermanroses.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/311\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paulzimmermanroses.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/309"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paulzimmermanroses.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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