Released Feb. 4, 2008
LINCOLN, Neb. -- The rose is America's most beloved flower. It also has the reputation for being persnickety, fussy and downright difficult to grow. Disenchanted gardeners can now consider growing EarthKind Roses. Texas A & M University started the EarthKind Environmental Stewardship Program to promote landscape sustainability, using tough rose varieties to launch the program. Roses deemed EarthKind are noted for their winter hardiness, disease resistance, drought tolerance and reliable flowering.
The most extensive testing of EarthKind Roses outside of Texas is at Haworth Park in Bellevue, Neb. This joint venture between the Omaha Rose Society and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Master Gardeners of Douglas/Sarpy County began in the spring of 2007. Thirty rose varieties were planted and evaluations will take place over the next two years. Plans are under way to add 20 more varieties from the Northern EarthKind Research Program from the University of Minnesota.
Using the EarthKind technique, three inches of compost is first worked into the soil. Roses are mulched with three inches of an organic mulch and given one inch of water per week for the first growing season. After that, the roses are on their own – no watering, no spraying and no fertilizing. This isn't to say these roses will never get black spot or aphids, but by giving special thought to the growing environment, the roses rebound quickly from pest problems. Thus far, some of the rose varieties that are performing beautifully include 'Barn Dancer', 'Belinda's Dream', 'Knockout', 'The Fairy', and 'Princess Verona'.
Haworth Park is located next to the Missouri River, just off Highway 370 in Bellevue. The EarthKind Roses test site is open to the public during normal park hours. An open house is planned for Friday, Sept. 19, from noon to 5 pm.
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http://ianrnews.unl.edu/static/0802041.shtml
Contacts: Karma Larsen, (402) 472-2971
Kathleen Cue, (402) 444-7890
Dan Moser, (402) 472-3007
