Middle of April and we stop deadheading. About fifty days later the bushes will give us their last blooms. Then we look for a period of dormancy where nothing seems to happen. This does not apply to our volunteers. We still need you for all the myriad of maintenance jobs, which we hope will be completed before we start the pruning season in mid June.
In cold country climates, dormancy is an essential part of the life cycle of roses. The bush defoliates, reducing the possibility of damage due to freezing. The cell sap begins to thicken aiding the stems to withstand the cold. In extreme climates, rose lovers have to cover their plants with straw or even dirt to ensure they do not freeze to death. Imagine in the wilds of Canada, bending your standards over and covering the heads.
There is one school of thought that states you are wasting your time having a period of dormancy. Their claim is that modern roses have the genetic make-up that makes the rose continue to bloom right throughout the year. One of these years we will have to experiment to see if this works, but try telling that to the people of Norway. Twenty-five years of experience in our garden says that we need a rest period for our roses (and our volunteers).
As I said before, we still need your presence at the garden to help carry out all our maintenance. Keep coming, please. (April 2018)
