Can I grow roses in Florida? Absolutely!10 roses that should have a home in every South Florida.

In the majority of Florida, roses grow and bloom year-round.Selecting varieties that perform well in our state and conform to your lifestyle are important factors to consider when growing roses in Florida.

Low- or high-maintenance roses can be found.The "old garden roses" and shrub roses are low-maintenance.Modern roses are considered high-maintenance since they require frequent grooming, fertilization, and spraying.

The best roses are hybrid roses.Old and dwarf varieties will do well with their own roots, but often perform better when they are replanted.

Variety selection is dependent on your personal preferences and needs when growing roses.

In north Florida, the planting of roses is better in the early spring.Plants are usually available from October to March.Bare- root plants may not do well on the Fortuniana rootstock.

Direct sunlight is needed for at least 6 hours a day.They can be planted in a full sun location.Modern roses will need to be amended.2 to 4 inches of organic material can be added to the rose bed.

If you want to grow a container-grown rose in your yard, make sure it stays above the soil by planting it at the same depth as it was growing in the container.For 6 to 8 weeks, apply mulch around each plant.

Low-maintenance varieties will appreciate occasional irrigation.

The amount of fertilization can be determined by the season, location and size of the plants.Regardless of the amount, choose afertilizer specifically intended for growing roses with controlled-release nitrogen.

In South Florida, monthly applications can be made year-round.If you want to reduce the amount for small plants, apply 1 cup offertilizer per plant monthly or bi-monthly.

Keeping roses healthy, attractive, and productive is part of grooming.It depends on the type of rose and your preferences.To care for your plants.

There are Prune hybrid teas in February and March in North and Central Florida.When you trim, do the following:

Before cutting flowers for an arrangement, consider how they will be used and what type of blooms you need.

Once the green sepals fold back toward the stem, you can cut the flowers.Buds will not open if they are too tight.

Cut flowers with a sharp knife or shears.To prevent die-back, make a clean cut just above the leaf.

When growing roses in Florida, black spot is the biggest problem.The disease occurs in wet weather.Irrigation helps keep foliage dry and less susceptible to black spot infections.Black spot infections can be managed with the help of Sanitation.

Remove all leaves from the plants and rake the area beneath the bush to remove dead leaves that have fallen during the year.Re-mulch immediately to create a physical barrier between the plant and the ground.As new growth emerges, begin spraying.

Most roses are resistant to black spot and will survive with few to no sprays.

When the days are warm and the nights cool, powdery mildew can be seen on roses.The disease rarely kills the plant.Spider mites are one of the most common pests of roses.You should monitor your roses frequently to detect early problems.

If you want to learn more about pest and disease management, contact your local Extension office.

"Growing Roses in Florida" was written by S. Park Brown.