ROSES IN HOT, DRY CLIMATES

Articles In This Section:

· CLIMATIC DIFFICULTIES

· ROSES IN COLD CLIMATES

· ROSES IN SUB-TROPICAL CLIMATES

· ROSES IN TROPICAL CLIMATES

· ROSES IN HOT, DRY CLIMATES

· GROWING ROSES IN SANDY SOILS

In many inland parts of Australia roses will grow well, but those with a small number of petals give blooms of poor lasting quality. Ample supplies of good water are essential; artesian water is often harmful. Roses grown without regular artificial watering during the summer will still give a good spring blooming and probably a light autumn crop. Heavy feeding or excessive watering will lead to soft sappy growth that will shrivel badly in the hot, dry summer weather.

Of course, if the grower is ambitious as an exhibitor, both food and water must be given freely at appropriate times, but for the home gardener who wishes to have roses for home and garden decoration only, success can be achieved by quite simple cultivation even in parts as dry as the Mallee.

In the areas of low rainfall and high summer temperatures, dwarf roses are best, for they have no trunk to suffer from sunburn and the plant itself shades the area of ground in which the roots are growing.

One of the greatest problems is the wide cracks that open in the soil in summer. This can be avoided only by greatly increasing the humus content of the garden. Careful preliminary preparation of the beds is necessary, followed by the use of compost, vegetable matter, cow manure, or horse manure containing large quantities of straw. Every available particle of organic matter must be most carefully saved and used as compost material. All household water should be poured round rose bushes, soaking them in rotation rather than sprinkling several at a time. Ironically, it is in these areas where the need for water and these organic foods and soil-conditioning agencies is greatest that their supply is poorest. There are no lawn clippings, for lawns are impracticable, being killed by summer heat; household vegetables are often brought from distant parts, and, to reduce weight in transport, their surplus foliage is left behind. Water conservation schemes will greatly reduce these problems. There is usually a lush growth of grass and weeds in spring. A good gardener will use this vegetation before it seeds to make compost or even hay for mulching. It is better, though, to grow a green crop in an adjoining area during the late winter and early spring. Animal manures are usually available in sufficient quantities; sawdust is useful.