An Almost Insect-Free Rose Garden

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A ROSE IS A ROSE"?

The genus Rosa includes more than 200 individual species, and so many hybrids that the mind boggles. Some ancient varieties, such as Gallicas and Damasks (examples of which perfumed the garden of the Empress Josephine), are still available today, as are descendants of the "modern" hybrid tea rose introduced in 1867. But although many rosarians do enjoy finding and cultivating the flowers of yesteryear, most contemporary growers choose from the six major classes that dominate present commerce. And an understanding of these categories will help you select the proper plants for your landscaping needs.

Hybrid tea. This is the classic rose . . . producing single blooms on long stems (although, on some occasions, hybrid teas may cluster or produce "candelabras"): Bush height ranges from J to 6 feet . . . almost every conceivable color is available . . . and most of the blooms are fragrant.

Floribunda. As its name implies, the floribunda rose flowers freely and heavily. Unlike the hybrid tea, most floribundas produce blooms in clusters, on compact 2- to 4-foot plants. This class is excellent for use in borders and mass plantings.

Grandiflora. These roses are per feet selections for use as tall hedges and backgrounds. The blooms are similar to those of the hybrid tea, but they generally occur in sprays of five to seven flowers. Some grandifloras reach heights of 8 to 10 feet.

Shrub roses. Though shrubs lack the bloom form and colors of their more elegant cousins, they are tough and disease resistant, and a well-placed shrub rose can perk up any landscape. Climbers. In spite of their name, climbers (also called ramblers) can't climb by themselves . . . they must be trained, by being tied to a strong support, to assume the desired shape. The bloom form and production vary on these 6- to SO-foot bushes: Some plants flower only once a year, while others blossom all season.

Miniatures. These Lilliputian delights are simply scaled-down versions of their larger relatives. Colors and varieties abound to suit most tastes (there are even climbing miniatures), and the midget bushes usually grow to only 12 inches in height. In spite of their fragile appearance, however, the minis are tough and hardy . . . and make fine borders, ground covers, and hanging baskets. Miniatures will even thrive on sunny windowsills during the winter months.

TIME-TESTED NATURAL DETERRENTS

Two old-fashioned—but still very effective—weapons for combating rose pests are companion plantings and nontoxic sprays. It seems that most insects despise the scent of members of the onion family, and of some other pungent herbs . . . and I've successfully headed off trouble by scattering garlic, chives, oregano, and tansy plants throughout my garden. Marigolds (be sure to get the Tagetes minuta or Calendula officinalis species rather than one of the new noscent hybrids) can provide attractive borders while keeping the destructive nematode (a microscopic rootattacking worm) at bay. Tomatoes, petunias, lavender, and chrysanthemums can also serve as effective pest repellents in the rose garden.

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