Should You Plant Tree Roses?

Tree roses can be a beautiful addition to any garden. Not only do they produce colorful flowers, they are also unique and majestic to look at. This is maybe the reason why they are commonly seen in the gardens of many rich and famous people.

But you don’t have to be rich or famous to plant them. Anyone who wants to have this kind of rose can easily add it to their garden landscape as it is available in various nurseries and garden centers. Like all types of roses, the only thing that is needed is to choose the right type for the gardener’s needs.

Tree roses or rose standards, as they are more popularly called, are made by grafting a bush or shrub rose to an upright trunk. Another graft is also made at the root stock of the trunk. The resulting plant produces a tree like shape, thus the name.

The downside in growing this type of rose is that it is very hard to maintain. Since it is composed of two roses, the top part and the root stock, you need to take care of both of them. Since they are tall, they are also vulnerable to strong winds and over exposure to the sun.

Winter is also an issue. The plant needs special care so that its top and bottom endure the freezing months. This can be done by pruning the plant first then covering it with a very heavy insulation material making sure that it will stay covered against the cold. It is perhaps best to grow these trees in a temperate climate that does not have harsh winters.

For colder regions, particularly in the northern part, another method is to partially uproot the rose and bury it in a trench beside it. Then when the warmer months come, it can be recovered and replanted again.

This extra care it takes make many rose gardeners hesitate before acquiring tree roses. However with the beauty and enjoyment that it can add to the garden, it may be well worth the effort.