My newly released Martha Stewart hybrid tea rose will soon bloom at the renowned New York Botanical Garden.
The Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden is among the most popular destinations at the NYBG from May through October. This is when more than 4000 rose plants representing 37 species and at least 650 varieties of roses are flowering. The collection includes heirloom roses selected for their glorious scents as well as modern cultivars featured for their resistance to disease and pests. Last week, I was honored to have my rose planted in one of the Garden's beds. My new rose has large pink blooms, dark green foliage, and an intoxicating sweet fragrance. It was bred by Meilland, a six-generation family-owned rose-growing business, and was launched in North America through Star Roses and Plants. If you're in the New York City area this summer, be sure to include a visit to the NYBG Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
The NYBG’s Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden was originally designed in 1916 by notable landscape gardener, Beatrix Farrand. Unfortunately, due to a shortage of materials during WWI, the garden was left unfinished for decades. It was finally completed in the late 1980s with support from David Rockefeller and then named after his wife, Peggy, who loved the fragrant flowers.
The Rose Garden is located at the northeast corner of the expansive 250 acre property. It is shaped in a loose triangle with a center gazebo. Meticulously manicured beds along several rows lead to center focal point.
Climbing roses are also planted on the surrounding iron fence.
The garden includes more than 4000 individual rose plants on the one-acre space.
The NYBG selected a bed near the front gate of the garden to plant my roses. In all, 13 Martha Stewart hybrid tea roses will grow and flourish here at the NYBG.
The bare-root plants were first soaked overnight in water to rehydrate them. Hydrating is an important step in planting bare-roots because it boosts root growth and helps them get established faster.
The best location for roses is one that gets full sun. Roses do best with at least six hours of direct sun per day – morning sun if at all possible. The hole should be about a foot deep and at least two feet wide.
Roses also prefer to grow in well-draining soil with a pH between 6 and 6.5. The soil here is amended with good nutrient filled compost.
NYBG gardener and rose garden expert, Bernie, removes the twine from one of the roses and inspects the plant. The roots should be strong and moist and the plant a vibrant bright green.
Bernie spreads the roots over a mound in the center of the hole. This small mound forms a cone to support the root system. He also makes sure the graft union is properly positioned so it is planted one to two inches below the soil line.
Bernie spreads the roots out over the mound evenly and carefully, allowing soil to fall in between the roots.
Once the plant is securely in place, he backfills the hole.
And then when completely filled, Bernie tamps down to establish good contact. Bare-root roses focus most of this early time to their root growth.
Because the area had also been previously mulched, Bernie covers the plant with a light layer of mulch which had been neatly pushed to the side.
After it is planted, just the top of the canes should be sticking out. Any soil around the stems when it starts to leaf out can be moved out of the way as it grows.
In June, when it is in peak bloom, it will show off more than a 100 lush pink to apricot petals. (Photo courtesy of Edmunds’ Roses)
Next, Bernie rakes the area so groomed looks groomed and tidy.
A solution of Nogall and water is poured over the plants. Nogall is used as a biological control treatment for Crown Gall Disease, which forms tumor like growths on the plant and disrupts growth.
He also follows it up with a liquid fertilizer and fish emulsion mix – both of which will provide good nutrients and encourage healthy growth. Fish emulsion contains nitrogen to promote strong, green foliage, phosphorous to help produce abundant flowers, and potassium to strengthen the plant against disease.
Bare-root roses could flower in the first year if planted early enough and in the right conditions. In general, it takes a couple of years for these roses to become well established. I am looking forward to seeing this garden bed during my visits to the NYBG.
Hundreds of varieties fill the garden beds and grow along the fences – my rose is in excellent company.
Among them Julia Child, Rosa ‘WEKvossutono’ – personally selected by the acclaimed late chef herself.
This shrub rose is David Rockefeller’s Golden Sparrow.
Here are some of the fresh green foliage of climbers on the top of the iron gazebo.
All the roses in this garden are carefully maintained and cataloged.
Michael, Bernie, and Senior Director of the Communications Nick Leshi have all been at the NYBG many years and have watched this garden grow and prosper. Thanks NYBG for including the Martha Stewart hybrid tea rose in your collection.
My gardeners and outdoor grounds crew are rushing to get hundreds of bare-root cuttings into pots before the holiday weekend.
Earlier this week, I received a huge delivery of bare-roots and young transplants from Star Roses and Plants, a company of brands that focuses on breeding and introducing specimens offering longer-lasting, disease resistant blooms. On the day they arrived, my team potted up more than 100 arborvitae and dogwood trees. On day-two - hundreds of bare-root hydrangeas, lilacs, and roses. It's a big undertaking, but the task is getting done and all the plants are in excellent condition.
Enjoy these photos.
I’m so proud of all the many bare-root plants I am able to nurture here in pots before they are planted in more permanent positions. These bare-roots are Sweet Starlight Hydrangeas, Hydrangea paniculata. Its bright white blooms age from light to dark pink.
These are New Age Lavender Lilacs, Syringa vulgaris. They are ultra-compact, mildew-resistant with a sweet and delightful fragrance.
And these are some of the potted roses, lined up by variety. Bare-root cuttings are difficult to identify when there are no leaves or flowers, so it is important to keep them separated by cultivar and always properly marked.
The main part of this delivery was the roses. All the specimens are delivered in sturdy, well-packaged boxes. Healthy bare-roots get off to a more vigorous start because their abundant, fibrous roots have already had a chance to develop unrestricted.
The bare-root roses are placed in trug buckets filled with water right away. When working with bare-roots it’s important to soak them for several hours or even overnight. Never let the roots dry out. One can already see the buds. These are in excellent condition – healthy, plump roots with no sign of mold or damage, and healthy canes with plump, reddish buds. Avoid very thin or dried-out plants and root systems.
Bare-roots often come in bundles. Depending on the nursery, they may come in groups of 10, 15, 25, or more. Phurba removes the twine from this bundle of 25.
Roses have two kinds of fibrous roots – thick roots to help stabilize the plant and keep it upright and thin feeder roots that absorb all the nutrients from the soil.
And do you know… roses are often armed with sharp prickles – they aren’t thorns at all. Unlike a thorn, a prickle can be easily broken off the plant because it is really a feature of the outer layers rather than part of the wood, like a thorn.
For potting, we use a nutrient-filled composted manure and top soil mix I make right here at the farm. A generous sprinkling of Miracle-Gro Shake ‘n Feed Plant Food is added and mixed in thoroughly.
Each bare-root rose is matched to an appropriately sized pot. The root section should fit into the pot without bing crowded at the bottom.
Phurba inspects the roots of each plant before it is potted up. This pot is already filled with a thin layer of soil.
Phurba positions the root so that the bud union is below the soil when filled.
Holding the plant with one hand, Phurba backfills just to under the pot’s lip.
Lastly, he gently tamps the soil down around the plant, so there is good contact with the roots.
Nearby, Alex pots up another rose. The crew has devised an efficient production line process for potting massive amounts of bare-roots.
The rose cultivars include: Rosa ‘KORnagelio’ Arborose Kiss Me Kate, Rosa ‘KORtangenu’ Arborose Tangerine Skies, Rosa ‘Meidelweis’ Bolero, Rosa ‘Meibacus’ Liv Taylor, Rosa ‘Meitelov’ Michelangelo, Rosa ‘Meikaquinz’ Moonlight Romantica, Rosa ‘KORmarzau’ Parfuma Bliss, Rosa ‘KORgeowim’ Parfuma Earth Angel, Rosa ‘Meipapey’ Romantica Ball Gown, Rosa ‘KORcarmis’ Raspberry Cupcake Rose, Rosa ‘KORvioros’ Sunbelt Savannah, Rosa ‘Meiroguste’ Top Cream, Rosa ‘Meinostair’ Sweet Mademoiselle, Rosa, ‘Meiclusif’ Dee-Lish Rose, Rosa ‘KORpauvio’ Eleganza Beverly, Rosa ‘KORsteflali’ Eleganza Wedding Bells, Rosa ‘Meitroni’ Francis Meilland Rose, and Rosa ‘Meidysouk’ Princesse Charlene de Monaco.
As each variety is done, the roses are loaded onto a wheelbarrow and brought to their designated spot in the “nursery.”
Matthew arranges them carefully with ample walking space in between varieties.
Here’s my team of bare-root planters – Alex, Phurba, and Pasang. They’re doing an excellent, fast, and efficient job. They’ve gotten a lot done, but there’s still more to go…
While here, these specimens will be watered and fed until they are more developed. I am already thinking about where these plants and trees will go. Follow along and see where…
My "nursery" is filling fast. I can't wait to see all these specimens flourish here at the farm.
My team is at it again - potting up hundreds of bare-root trees and shrubs.
Over the last couple of weeks, my gardeners and outdoor grounds crew have been busy caring for all sorts of bare-roots - plants that are so named because they are dug from the ground while dormant and then stored without any soil surrounding their roots. Yesterday, I received a shipment of beautiful bare-root roses, hydrangeas, lilacs, dogwoods, arborvitae and others. I also received more than 100 boxwood shrub transplants - all from Star Roses and Plants, a company of brands, including The Knock Out® Family of Roses, Bloomables®, Drift® Roses, and Bushel and Berry® that focuses on breeding and introducing plants that offer disease resistance and long-lasting blooms. Once the plants arrived, it was all hands on deck.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
I’m using my former vegetable garden, down by my chicken coops, as a “nursery” for newly potted specimens. It’s large, flat, and completely fenced in. Here’s Phurba leveling the soil for the weed cloth.
A large piece of weed cloth is put down and secured. This will keep the area looking neat, tidy and much more manageable.
Star Roses and Plants is well known first by its beautiful roses and then by all its other newly bred and developed plants. I received 426 roses.
Here’s Phurba unloading the first of 100 Little Mister Buxus, Buxus microphylla.
According to Star Roses and Plants, I now have the largest collection of Little Mister Buxus shrubs.
This boxwood variety has a dense and compact habit with year-round bold green foliage and blight-resistance.
Here’s one box of bare-root lilacs, Syringa Vulgaris New Age Lavender. This lilac is a compact, deciduous shrub with a rounded growth habit. It grows to about six-feet tall and wide and is very fragrant.
Our first bare-roots to pot are these Emerald Squeeze™ Thuja, Thuja occidentalis ‘Lilshreckthu.’
Using our trusted Kubota tractor and bucket loader, Chhiring delivers a supply of nutrient-rich soil to the potting site.
Star Roses and Plants also gifted me with enough pots for planting.
The pots are filled a third of the way full in a production line process.
Here’s Alex holding up one of the Thuja bare-roots. Bare-root plants should not have any mold or mildew. The cuttings should also feel heavy. If they feel light and dried out then the plant probably will not grow. Healthy bare-root trees get off to a more vigorous start because their abundant roots have already had a chance to develop unrestricted.
Arborvitaes have soft, dense evergreen foliage.
This variety also has a very strong and fibrous root system.
The bare-root is held secure in the pot as soil is dropped around its roots.
Once the pot is filled to just under its lip, Phurba tamps down carefully to ensure good contact between the soil and the plant’s roots.
As the bare-roots are potted, they’re loaded onto a wheelbarrow and brought to their temporary growing spot in the yard.
These bare-roots will stay here for about a year where they can be cared for closely until they are ready to plant in more permanent areas around the farm.
These are bare-root cuttings of Cornus sericea ‘Winter Spark,’ commonly known as red twig dogwood or red osier dogwood, an upright spreading shrub that can reach a height of nine feet if left unpruned.
Each of these bare-root cuttings is also placed into an appropriately sized pot. The root section should fit into the pot without being crowded at the bottom. Phurba checks and teases the roots before placing into the designated container.
These dogwoods will add vibrant color to the landscape when planted. It’s a busy and productive start to the planting season here at my farm! I’ll show you my bare-root roses from Star Roses and Plants in an upcoming blog.
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