Growing roses in Anchorage may sound intimidating, but it isn't. With no more effort than required for most container plantings, your summer can be filled with roses! Modern roses such as Hybrid Tea, Floribunda, and Grandiflora roses, and the smaller miniature and patio roses do very well as container plants in Anchorage and are capable of providing color throughout the summer.

Most of these roses are too tender to survive our winters outdoors. As a matter of convenience, many people grow them as annuals, discarding the bushes in the fall and buying new ones each spring. There are, however, alternatives. When semi-dormant, these roses often can be wintered successfully in a cool, dark crawl space, garage, or basement. Some gardeners winter their roses as houseplants in a southern window, while others take advantage of the local nurseries and have their roses wintered in a greenhouse.

Another rose growing option is to grow roses hardy in our area. Various Old Garden Roses and modern Shrub roses do very well in our climate. The hardy Old Garden Roses are predominately species roses and their hybrids. The most well know in Anchorage are the Rugosa roses, also known locally as "Sitka Roses". Others to look for include the Blanda roses and the Spinosissima (or Pimpinellifolia) roses, also known as "Scotch Roses". The Foetida and Foetida bicolor species, known as "Austrian Yellow Rose" and "Austrian Copper Rose", respectively, also can be found in Anchorage, along with Foetida hybrids such as "Harison's Yellow". Not to be overlooked are the native Nutkana roses which grow wild throughout our area, and the Glauca (or Rubrifolia) rose, also called the "Red-Leaf Rose".

An increased interest in old-fashioned roses is reflected in the modern Shrub roses being developed by hybridizers around the world. Those with the most promising hardiness include the Morden and Explorer series from Canada and some of the Kordes roses from Germany. Watch the local nurseries this spring - many of these should be available.

When buying a hardy rose, be sure it's on its own roots, rather than grafted onto other rootstock. During a severe winter, winter kill of a hardy rose is often caused by the failure of the more tender rootstock. If the rose is on its own roots, it is more likely to survive

["Growing Roses in Anchorage", Allen Deitz, March/April 1994, Extension Info & Ideas. Alaska Cooperative Extension.].

(Click on thumbnail to view larger photo.)
 

Austrian Copper	Peace Rose	Harison's Yellow	Sir Thomas Lipton

Hardy Roses

Tender (non-hardy) types to grow as potted plants:

Hybrid Tea:

Hybrid teas have large flowers typically with a 'classic' rose bud & flower shape.
They have long stems with a single terminal flower or a single flower with 2 or 3 side buds, which should be disbudded for show.
They usually have fewer flowers all at once & over the season than floribundas.

Potting

Tender roses in Anchorage grow better in pots than in the ground, possibly due to the warmer soil provided in the pot.
Pots are usually portable, can be moved to sunnier locations, and to show to their best advantage. Growing these roses in pots allow an extended season by the ability to move and shelter them from early frosts, and wintering over indoors is made easier without digging and potting.

When to start roses:
If bare root/dormant:
-mid-to-late April for greenhouse or sheltered location
-early May for outside -- plan on occasional shelter from freezing nights as they leaf out
If potted/leafed out
-mid-to-3rd week of May
-plan on sheltering on freezing nights

Fairly heavy soil is better than lightweight "soilless mixes".
Composition:
1/2 topsoil, 1/4 sand or perlite, 1/4 compost
or 1/2 topsoil, 1/2 potting soil
pH should be 6.5 - 6, but will tolerate 6 - 7

Large amounts of water are necessary.  Remember to provide good drainage!
In warm dry weather, watering can be needed as often as once per day.
Using 'pre-warmed' water gives the best results.

Epsom Salts (magnesium Sulfate) provides a good boost in spring.
1 Tsp. Per pot
1/4 cup per mature in-ground shrub/bush
Liquid Fertilizer
Use half-strength when potted
Use full-strength at full leaf, then bi-weekly
Granular
Use at 6-week intervals (3 times during the season)

1. when the rose begins to leaf out
2. again in mid-June
3. August 1st (no later)
8-32-16 "all purpose" fertilizer is good
Ortho (& other) Rose & Flower Food and Systemic Insecticide are also good

Aphids

Mechanical control:
Pinch and leave residue - this seems to act as deterrent.
Water spray: be careful to avoid damage to the flowers.
Don't leave water on the foliage late in day;spray when flower buds can dry to avoid balling. Dry foliage helps control mildew.
Use a spray bottle with 'air temperature' water, rather than directly from the hose -- try not to chill the plant.

Chemical control:
Soap spray:

Insecticidal soaps work well. As with water spray, try to avoid leaving water on the foliage and flower buds late in the day.
Insecticide:
Malathion is the topical recommendation.
Systemic recommendation: Ortho Rose & Flower systemic
NOTE: Many roses have systemic residue from nursery -- don't eat petals or hips the first year unless you know the plant is systemic free!

Organic Control:
Grow disease resistant varieties.
Environment:
Good air circulation is important. Early morning and late evening sun is essential to dry foliage.
Prune to keep open and help air circulation.

Chemical Control:
Baking soda:
1 Tbsp. Per gallon water with horticultural oil, weekly and after a rain. Works better as a prevention. (spray under leaves as well)
Fungicide:
Funginex is recommended.

Deadheading prolongs blooming.
Stop after early to mid-August if intending to winter over plant. This produces "hips" which promotes dormancy.
Cut flowers or prune canes to encourage new growth.
Prune to the outside to open plant and encourage good air circulation.
Leave at least 2 complete (five leaflet) leaves; more is better.
Prune canes:
To remove dead, damaged, and diseased canes
To remove in-growing and crossing canes
To maintain size and shape

Before bringing any plant indoors or into a greenhouse, clean up debris and inspect for insects. Spray if   needed.
Options for wintering tender potted roses include:
Greenhouse/Nursery
Commercial greenhouse
Check in advance for requirements and date
Personal greenhouse
Must be able to ensure adequate, continuous heat
Must be prepared to provide water and care
House plant
Conditioning:
Harden-off to warm, dry, house air by bringing inside for increasing periods of time over several days.
Light and Water:
Treat as a high-light, semi-dormant houseplant
Pruning:
As little as necessary
Feeding: Don't feed until plant breaks dormancy and begins active growth in early spring.
Feed with half-strength, low nitrogen fertilizer.

In late July or early August, encourage plant to go dormant:
Stop feeding
Stop pruning
Stop deadheading
Continue watering well (rain fall is not effective)

September dormancy:

Keep dark and cold (30-35ºF)
Water to avoid roots drying. The warmer and dryer the storage area, the more frequently they will need water. Maybe as often as every 4 weeks, or as infrequently as every 12 weeks.
Snap sprouts at cane. Don't let them get long. Too much light or too warm is usually the cause -- plant is breaking dormancy.

Allen Deitz is the past president of the Alaska Master Gardener Association, editor and past president of the Alaska Rose Society, and owner of The Rainbow Connection, a back-yard nursery specializing in roses, biennials, perennials and locally collected seed.

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