Now's the Time to Celebrate National Rose Month

 

National Rose Month is celebrated every June as a time to honor the beauty, diversity, and rich symbolism of roses. As these beloved flowers burst into full bloom, they capture our imaginations with their wide variety of colors, fragrances, and forms. With over 300 species worldwide, roses have been admired not only for their aesthetic appeal but also for the deep cultural significance they carry—from symbols of romantic love to emblems of national pride. 

The history behind National Rose Month is equally fascinating. The celebration began in 1959 during efforts to have the rose recognized as the national flower of the United States—a goal that finally materialized in 1986 when President Ronald Reagan officially declared the rose the national floral emblem. This milestone, along with earlier traditions like the creation of the White House Rose Garden initiated in 1913 by First Lady Ellen Wilson, underscores how intertwined the rose is with American heritage and cultural identity. 

In Colorado, there is a long history of roses growing, dating back millions of years. Evidence of these remarkable plants was uncovered in 1874 by pioneer and homesteader Charlotte Hill, when she discovered a fossilized rose leaf preserved in the Upper Eocene Florissant Formation some 34 million years ago. Now in the Smithsonian, the fossil rose Rosa hilliae is named for her.  Charlotte Hill's work helped pave the way for the preservation of the Florissant Fossil Beds, which eventually became a National Monument in 1969. 

Colorado has three native wild roses, including Mountain rose (Rosa woodsii), Prairie rose, (Rosa Arkansas) and Prickly rose (Rosa acicularis) which can be viewed from the plains to elevations up to twelve thousand feet.  Wild roses or “species roses” typically have a single, predominately pink flower. 

Modern garden roses are those most familiar to gardeners, in particular hybrid tea roses.  The first hybrid tea rose, known as La France, debuted in 1867, marking the dawn of what would become one of the most influential classes in modern rose gardening. Since that pioneering moment, breeders have introduced thousands of uniquely different hybrid tea varieties. 

In addition to hybrid teas, modern garden rose varieties include climbers, David Austin, shrub roses, miniature roses, grandifloras and floribundas.  

When it comes to growing roses successfully in Colorado, choose a location that receives at least six hours of direct sun every day, away from trees, shrubs and perennials that compete for sunlight, space and nutrients. Provide adequate space between rose bushes. They don’t do well when crowded together. Prepare the planting site by adding locally produced organic materials, such as Earth Essentials Sheep, Peat and Compost. Roses need well-amended soils to establish strong root systems and achieve vigorous growth and bloom potential.   

In addition, a consistent supply of nutrients will keep your roses healthy and blooming through the season.

 

Planted in June, roses will establish well and provide color to your garden for many seasons to come.   

 

 

June Garden Chores

 

As June rolls in, your garden enters a dynamic phase—one of transition from early spring into full summer mode. As your garden becomes more established in June, you may find more opportunities (sometimes more necessity) to prune, stake, or thin out overgrown plants to keep them healthy and flourishing. 

In addition, your garden is going to need your attention to ensure it has what it needs to achieve its highest potential. This includes ensuring your plants receive the right nutrition and hydration, while keeping up with the weeds, pests, harvesting, pruning and yes - planting. 

As the days get longer and the temperature climbs, your plantings face hotter days and dryer spells, making it essential to water deeply and regularly. June often demands a more proactive watering strategy to combat evaporation and stress the heat places on plants. 

When it comes to hydration, avoid overhead watering and deliver water to the root zone. An easy way to accomplish this is to build a moat around the plant and water the moat with a hose-end attachment. Soaker hoses also help ensure that the water you apply to your garden is being used by your plants and not lost to evaporation.  

 

A 6-8″ layer of organic mulch can optimize water usage by blocking thirsty weeds and reducing evaporation. Organic mulches retain some water themselves and increase the humidity level around plants. Soil Pep is a good choice for mulch in your garden.  

 

Optimal nutrition is achieved by choosing and adding the right fertilizer for the crops you’re growing.  Every garden fertilizer lists the three major ingredients on the front of the container, in this order: Nitrogen, Phosphate and Potash. The first number on the label is always Nitrogen. Nitrogen promotes plant growth. The second number is Phosphate. Phosphate plays a major role in rooting and blooming. The third number is Potassium, which plays a key role in overall plant development.  

 

All three numbers are important and using a fertilizer designed for the plants you are growing will give you the best results. Tomatoes, peppers and other fruiting crops need fertilizers with a high middle number to promote rooting and blooming, such as 5-7-3 or 4-5-6. The presence of an OMRI seal on the package is your assurance the product has been certified organic according to the Organic Material Review Board. 

 

Beyond basic ingredients, fertilizer effectiveness is determined by several factors, including soil pH, soil structure and soil microbiome. If you have questions, stop in and let’s have a conversation about which fertilizer is best for your vegetable garden. 

 

The shift in season also brings changes in pest activity. June’s warmth can accelerate the lifecycle of insects and diseases. This means your pest monitoring and organic treatments will need to ramp up as well. 

 

While you’re tending your warm weather crops, don’t forget to harvest the lettuce, spinach and other cool season crops as they ripen.  

 

Yes, you can still plant. Tomatoes, peppers and other crops that didn’t survive the spring can be replaced now with healthy transplants. From seed, you can plant beets, radishes, carrots. 

 

Weeds are very opportunistic, seemingly springing up overnight. It’s very important to keep them from going to seed. The same is true of insect pests and diseases. Knowing what you’re dealing with is the first step to effective control. Bring a sample of the problem to our Diagnostic Center. We’ll identify it and recommend a solution.  

By keeping on top of tasks — such as weeding, thinning, pruning and monitoring pests — your garden will be more productive this year.