Written collaboratively by Kristine Lang, Madalyn Shires, Chris Schlenker, Sydney Trio, and Amanda Bachmann.
Are you interested in adding roses to your garden or looking to liven-up your current collection? SDSU Extension and McCrory Gardens experts recently shared their tips and tricks for caring for roses in South Dakota. This advice is relevant to anyone growing roses in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-5 across the Northern Great Plains.
Video Resources
Types of Roses and How to Care for Them
Roses have a place in nearly everyone’s heart and have been influential in society for thousands of years. Learn about the intriguing history of roses along with how modern roses were developed from historic species. Topics also include general care and growing tips for roses, including planting and pruning techniques. You will also learn about many of the different types of roses that can be utilized in landscapes of the Northern Great Plains and get a glimpse into the rose collections and research done at McCrory Gardens at SDSU in Brookings, SD.
Identifying and Managing Insect Pests
What’s nibbling on your roses? Learn about some of the insects that think roses are as tasty as they are beautiful. In this video, Amanda Bachmann, SDSU Extension Urban Entomology Field Specialist, will cover scouting, identification, and management options for some common rose pests in South Dakota.
Preventing Common Diseases
Rose diseases, especially leaf spot diseases, are an aspect of rose production that we have all struggled with at some point. There are many ways to manage fungal leaf spot diseases including cultural practices, such as pruning to promote air movement and not watering the foliage, as well some fungicide options. If viruses, such as rose mosaic virus complex or rose rosette virus, are problems in your garden, removal of infected plants is the most-important management strategy. Before investing money in chemical treatment or removing plants, ensure that an accurate disease identification has been made. Diseased samples and questions can be directed to the SDSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic.
How to Prune Roses
Heavy pruning of rose bushes should occur in the early spring before leaf buds begin to open. Spring is the time to shape roses, prune off dead branches, and to clean out the center of the rose for better air movement. Pruning needs to occur in South Dakota once the chance of a hard freeze has passed. This fourth video, courtesy of Texas A&M AgriLife Today, gives step-by-step instructions for pruning.
