National EarthKind™ Rose Trial, Mineola
Do you grow roses? Many home gardeners don’t because they’ve either heard they need lots of care or they’ve been disappointed in the roses they have tried to grow. Several years ago a program that came to be called EarthKind™ was started in
Texas. Rose growers were asked to name their most hardy roses. Over 100 different cultivars were picked for the first tests. The chosen roses were planted in several different locations around the state. The soil was cultivated and the plants were mulched. Except for supplemental water the first year, the plants were given no care. They were never pruned, never fertilized or sprayed with any chemical, and never deadheaded. At the end of the trial there were 11 varieties that were chosen as the best and given the EarthKind™ designation. These roses and several other cultivars added since that first test have been proven to grow and bloom well all over the state of Texas with minimal water, chemicals, and care. The stipulations are that the plants are “own root” (not grafted), are planted in soil amended with compost, in a location with 8 hours of sun, and the soil is kept mulched with 3-4” of organic mulch.
Growers around the nation saw the results of the
EarthKind™ trials and asked that the research be extended to a national test. The first national test included thirty cultivars. The trials are not exactly like the first Texas trials. Three of each cultivar chosen to be tested are planted in compost amended soil. Like the original test, the soil is kept mulched throughout the trial period. The soil moisture is checked regularly and the plants are watered if the soil gets dry one inch below the soil surface.
In 2006 the Wood County Master Gardeners decided to participate in the National Rose Trials. An area just south of the railroad tracks and about ¼ mile west of the passenger train depot in Mineola was chosen for the location. It was the former location of a Union Pacific freight depot and the soil was compacted and over grown with bermudagrass, nutsedge, and morning glories. In late summer the ground was cleared and cultivated. The trial area was laid out with 12’ between rows and in October 90 roses were planted according to the research guidelines by a group of master gardeners and local residents. After watering the plants the whole trial bed was spread with 3-4” of wood chips provided by the city street department.
In March of 2008 evaluations started. The plants were rated by a team of master gardeners monthly on the appearance of the foliage, evidence of insect or disease damage, blossoms, and growth habit. Monthly evaluating continued through the 2009 growing season. It was interesting to see the different "personalities" of the roses. Some plants didn't really seem to develop until the third year. Some have the best blooms in the spring, others in the fall. Some bushes sprawl and some were very well behaved. One of the Knockout rose bushes was attack by bag worms and eatten back to the branches. After hand picking the bags the plant grew back and was in full bloom again in less than 3 months.
The final evaluation was done in November 2009. The results of the Wood County trial will be used by the national trial team to eventually present several varieties of roses that can provide gardening and landscape enjoyment while preserving and protecting our environment.
You are welcome to visit the trial gardens. Just remember
“PLEASE DON’T PICK THE FLOWERS”.
Click here to view a complete list and descriptions of the roses being trialed in this garden.
For more EarthKind information go to http://earthkind.tamu.edu