Like all other aspects of caring for Lotusland, rose care has undergone dramatic changes during the past few years. Our experience has shown that the old tenet, "a healthy vigorous well-grown plant will experience the least pest and disease problems," remains true.

Selection : Fragrance, color, and growth habit are common criteria for selecting roses for your garden. Just as important are choosing roses that have shown resistance to diseases experienced in our coastal area and acquiring roses from a reputable source. Visiting a rose garden, such as the Santa Barbara Rose Garden, to observe prospective choices can be very helpful.

Location: A sunny location with good air circulation is a universal recommendation. Roses are somewhat tolerant of less than perfect locations, but performance will probably suffer.

Planting: The quality of the soil and good drainage are very important. At Lotusland, a subsurface drain system beneath the rose beds helps provide adequate drainage. Before planting, ample organic matter was included in the soil. The roots were innoculated with beneficial fungi (mychorrhizae), which form a symbiotic relationship with the rose resulting in improved plant vigor and disease suppression. An organic fertilizer was also mixed in the backfill to provide for the nutritional needs of the new roses. It is very important when planting to have the root crown right at the soil surface.

Irrigation: Correct irrigation begins at planting time and is important throughout the year. The root system of roses is very near the soil surface so it can easily dry out. It only takes one Santa Ana wind to cause serious dehydration of the feeder roots. While the rose may survive a desiccation of its roots, the stress of re-growing new roots will predispose the rose to disease and even insect problems. This is why we never cultivate the soil in the root area of the roses and one of the reasons why we maintain a layer of organic mulch in the garden. It is important to choose an irrigation system that provides a minimum wetting of the foliage and to irrigate early in the day so the leaves can dry before evening.

Fertilization: Since Lotusland's garden philosophy relies on maintaining the health of the microorganisms in the soil, we use only organic fertilizers. The activity of these soil organisms transforms the organic fertilizers and the organic matter (mulch) into nutrients the roses can use, when they need them. In addition to providing nutritional needs, this complex microorganism community increases the soil's disease suppression qualities. As caretakers of this rose biological system, we determine the system's health and diversity by our cultural practices. Rosarians who use chemical fertilizers and pesticides and do not manage the soil organic matter content have a minimal soil organism community. They have to apply the nutrients in a chemical form and manage the problems of a weakened biological system by using chemical pesticides. Through proper management, we can grow healthy, attractive roses without the use of chemicals.

Foliar Disease Management: If you live near the coast and have poor air circulation in your rose garden, foliar diseases will probably be a concern. The selection of disease-resistant varieties and proper care and management practices will lessen these problems. Our foliar disease management has evolved through the years from a completely conventional approach using weekly applications of fungicides to one using routine applications of organic materials. We currently use special formulations of compost tea to manage foliar diseases. The compost tea provides a film of living beneficial organisms on the leaves of the roses that helps prevent fungal disease spores from infecting the plant. Removing infected leaves helps prevent re-infection of healthy foliage. Non-foliar disease problems, such as stem canker, are managed by maintaining the overall health and vigor of the system. Proper pruning methods and sterilization of pruning tools are also important.

Insect Ecology: Wise management of the insect ecology is essential in sustainable management. Insects such as aphids always precede the arrival of beneficial insects so that beneficial insects will have a food source when they do arrive. When a well-intentioned gardener sprays insecticides and kills the aphids, he not only eliminates the food source for the beneficial insects, but destroys the natural checks and balance in the garden, thus making him the arbitrator of all insect activity for the entire season. Anything sprayed on the leaves ends up on the soil surface, where it will harm the soil microorganisms. It is not the presence of plant-damaging insects that is the problem, but the unbalanced insect ecology created by the design of our gardens and our management practices.