Suppose you are new to roses. You have planted a small rose garden and you'd like to grow good roses. But you have more questions than answers. Where do I start? What do I feed them? How do I protect their health? To answer these and other beginner questions, download this helpful PDF guide: The Rookie Rosarian

If you’d like to start with the basic FAQs for growing roses in San Diego, read on…

Where should I buy my roses?

Click on this link to see the latest list of nurseries that sell roses. We do not endorse any of these specifically, and are providing this as a helpful resource.

Where should I plant my roses?

Roses are sun plants and will not prosper in deep shade. Anywhere from four to six hours of sun per day. Select a location where your roses will get sun about half the day. The sun moves across the sky in the south, so a Southern exposure is preferred. Also, there are subtle differences in morning and afternoon sun and as a general rule morning sun is better. Roses do not like to compete for sun, water or fertilizer with other plants. Do not plant under trees or too close to large shrubs. The biggest natural enemy of the rose is the tree. Tree roots choke roses, rob them of nutrients and the canopy deprives them of the sun. You also need to be cautious of the practice of planting “companion plants” among roses. Although in theory this can provide a nice English garden look, be certain that it makes the job of caring for your roses tougher. The best companion for a rose is another rose. Air circulation is important to roses. Therefore roses should not be planted too close together or too close to walls. In San Diego, the proper spacing for large roses is at least 3 feet from the center of the rose. Climbers require even more room, 4-6 feet apart and a structure on which to grow.

How should I prepare the soil for planting a rose?

If you intend to add new roses this year, the best month to plant new roses in the ground is in January. If you are growing roses in pots, anytime of the year is great! Mark out the location in the ground of the roses using the spacing described above. Dig a hole about two feet in diameter and 2 feet deep for each plant. Clear out the rocks and roots in the removed soil. If the soil looks as if it might have some life to it save about half of it and mix it with a good organic planting mix. Otherwise, use only the planting mix. Fill the hole back up with the mixture, pack in the soil, and water regularly until the rains come.

When should I prune my roses?

January is the time to plant and prune roses. In San Diego County, you can start pruning just about anytime after Christmas and through about Valentine’s Day.

How often should I try to get rid of pests and disease?

The key to any effective pest and disease control program is regularity. Established pest populations are very difficult to get back into control; established diseases are even more difficult to eradicate. So the point is to establish a regular program aimed at prevention, in the case of disease, and early detection and control, in the case of pests. Some people spray at least every two weeks during the prime rose growing seasons (February to mid-June and in September and October). As a rose show exhibitor, most exhibitors spray weekly during the weeks surrounding the show. A rookie looking primarily for a beautiful garden display will find a program that calls for spraying every 2-3 weeks will be adequate.

What should I use to get rid of pests or disease?

There are various methods with chemicals and organic gardening. Email us with your specific problem and if you prefer chemicals or organic methods. When it comes to pesticides, less is best.

What are some great examples of fertilizer for roses?

Most people in San Diego should fertilize their roses between February 14 and September 30 (or later if the weather is warm). Here are some of the more popular fertilizers with expert rose growers: BioStart 3-4-3 (available at our yearly fertilizer sale in December), blood meal, bone meal, kelp meal, fish meal, cottonseed meal, alfalfa meal, worm castings, fish emulsion, Jump Start, Magnum Rose Food 8-10-8, Miracle-Gro All Purpose Plant Food 24-8-16, Miracle-Gro for Roses 18-24-16, Ada Perry’s Magic Formula (developed by Walter Andersen Nursery), Vigoro All Purpose Water Soluble Plant Food 24-8-16, and Sea Grow 16-16-16. Click here for more info about the fertilizers that we recommend.

Which roses grow well in San Diego and are great for beginners?

Pink or Pink Blend
’Raspberry Cupcake’
‘Hot Princess’
‘The Fairy’
’All Dressed Up’
’Cosmic Clouds’
‘Neil Diamond’
’Arctic Blue’
’Stiletto’
’Picture Perfect’
’Powerpuff’
’Queen of Elegance’
’Romantica Ball Gown’
’Enchanted Peace’
’Miss Manners’
’Pop Art’

Red or Red Blend
‘All American Magic’
’Cherries & Champagne’
’Lady in Red’
’Firefighter’
’Take It Easy’
’Top Gun’

Mauve or Purple
’Celestial Night’
’Easy to Please’
’Perfume Factory’
’Sweet Madame Blue’
’Violet’s Pride’
’Distant Drums’

White
’Bolero’
’Easy Spirit’
’Icecap’
’Knock Out White’
’Top Cream’

Yellow or Yellow Blend
’Eleganza Sunny Sky’
’Fun in the Sun’
’Gilded Sun’
’Gold Struck’
’Julia Child’
’Moonlight Romantica’
’Make Me Blush’
’Morning Glow’
’Quest for Zest’
’Sunset Horizon’

Apricot
’Bright n Shiny’
’Apricot Drift’
’Edith’s Darling’
’Eleganza Oh Happy Day’
’Livin Easy’
’State of Grace’

Orange
’Burst of Joy’
’Chihuly’
’Desert Sky’
’Easy Does It’
’Forever Amber’
’Knock Out Orange Glow’
’Rosie the Riveter’

Russet
‘Hot Cocoa’
’Cinco de Mayo’

What are the most fragrant roses that grow well in San Diego County?
(Roses in bold are typically the most fragrant of this list)

Abraham Darby, Eng, ab, 1991
Angel Face, FL, 1969
Barbra Streisand, HT, m, 1999
Beverly, HT, mp, 1999
Bolero, FL, w, 2005
Chrysler Imperial, HT, dr, 1952
Dolly Parton, HT, or, 1985
Double Delight, HT, rb, 1977
Elle, HT, 2005
Evelyn, Eng, ab, 1992
Firefighter, HT, dr, 2004
Fragrant Cloud, HT, or, 1963
Fragrant Plum, Gr, m, 1990
Francis Meilland, HT, 2013
Gertrude Jekyll, Eng, mp, 1986
Golden Zest, S, my, 2005
Jude the Obscure, Eng, my, 1997
Lasting Love, HT, 1993
Melody Perfume, Gr, m, 1995
Mister Lincoln, HT, dr, 1965
Munstead Wood, S, 2010
Neil Diamond, HT, 2015
Neptune, HT, m, 2004
Nicole Carol Miller, Gr, m, 2005
Oklahoma, HT, dr, 1964
Papa Meilland, HT, dr, 1963
Pope John Paul II, HT, w, 2007
Princesse Charlene de Monaco, HT, 2015
Secret, HT, pb, 1994
Sugar Moon, HT, w, 2012
Yves Piaget, HT, dp, 1989

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