It is one of those years. Spring has arrived, but not really! We have early spring roses but two weeks ago, we had a blizzard that dumped 18.5″ of snow here in Windsor, Connecticut. Out near the street there was much more than that, and because it had ice melt in it, too, it was extremely difficult for my husband, Bob, to blow the snow out of the place where there used to be a sidewalk. It took all day, the day after the blizzard, for him to clean it out, and when he was finished, he had created a deep snow tunnel!

Spring Trials

The last week of February was a taste of spring for us. While we were working the Connecticut Flower and Garden Show, it got up to 72 degrees. Then March hit and winter returned with a vengeance. Now, I’m a pretty positive person, but a season like this tries my patience a bit. I had really hoped that we’d have an early spring and I could be out pruning by now. But, I also know that it is never a good idea to garden by the calendar. We really need to wait until our plants speak to us, and they’re still too cold to get vocal. And so, I must be patient…despite the fact that it is getting frustrating! Thankfully, there are early spring roses.

So, what is the frustrated rosarian to do while waiting for spring’s embrace? One thing for me to do is to visit our local Ocean State Job Lot. We all have stores like these; these places are where the stuff that didn’t sell last year shows up at bargain prices. Some of their merchandise is new, like crockery for the windowsill and the garden, seed starting trays, fertilizers, potting soils…fun stuff for the gardener to look through.

I have several pairs of small, sharp pointed pruners that are very handy for deadheading that I’ve bought there. My best kneepads ever also came from there, and it’s a good place to pick up stuff like Liquid Fence to keep the deer and woodchucks at bay. Although it’s fun to visit all these garden supplies, the real reason for my visit is because I know that now is the time that they bring in big boxes from Tyler, Texas.

Big Boxes of Rose Bushes!

I know some folks who won’t buy roses like this, but they are perfectly fine off-patent rosebushes that will grow just great in your garden with a little special care. And, it’s important to buy them now, as soon as they are unpacked, as the store employees do not get paid to water anything. These early spring roses usually have a whacked-back root system to fit into a peat pot (or a box) and the canes are pruned short (to fit many in boxes). They also dip them in parrafin to keep them from drying out. They are not planted in soil, but in a mulch material. I talked to a lady named Jackie the other day while I was visiting the roses at the store and she said every time she planted these roses they always die. It was time to share a little Roses 101 with her!

Taking Care of Your Rose

Here’s what I explained to my new rose bud. When you bring home one of these $5.99 roses, pull off the plastic bag and release this new baby into the world. Take it out of the mulch and soak that rose in a bucket of water until you plant it. Keep it from freezing and aerate the water daily so it won’t get stagnant around the root system. At this point, it is my choice to pot the rose in a three gallon pot and get it out on the driveway as soon as possible. Root systems grow a lot faster when the soil is warm, and the dark driveway, soil, and pot soak up the heat from the sun. In five to six weeks, you will have a solid root ball and an excellent plant that will perform beautifully the first year in the rose garden after feeding.

These stores always stack up full boxes of roses and then put some unpacked roses up top. This is maddening to me! I always wonder what is in those other boxes, and I know that they’re going to start growing without any light. This produces growth that looks like a sprouted potato. Before I left, I spoke to the manager, which I do every year. ‘Please.’ I said. ‘Please open the boxes and let out these roses … they are suffocating in there!’

I think I’ll go back to check on them this afternoon.