According to the Canadian Rose Society's website, the Parkland rose series is even hardier than the Explorers.
Some rosy suggestions
Explorer roses were developed in Ottawa to withstand our cold climate and are relatively maintenance free. Amin Datoo, store manager of Sheridan Nurseries in Toronto, has these tips for taking care of roses:
- Explorer roses require a minimum of five hours of sun a day.
- Good drainage is a must -- roses don't like wet feet.
- Apply fertilizer four times a year:
- In the spring when the plant starts to bud, using a mixture of bone and blood meal, or rose food with a 6-12-6 formula.
- When the plant is ready to flower.
- Once the flowers fade.
- Late August, since many cultivars will provide another blush of flowers in cooler weather.
- Prune roses in the spring -- late March or early April -- before buds set. Prune for shape and fullness. Remove dead wood and leave three to five canes. Bring younger plants (two or three years old) down to 12-in., while mature plants can be scaled back to 24-in.
- Spray canes in early spring with lime sulphur, also known as a dormant spray. Apply after pruning, but before the buds open, to kill overwintering insects and fungus.
- Never water at night, especially with a sprinkler. Hand watering is best and will help to prevent blackspot and mildew. Soak roses twice a week during heat waves.
- Water deeply in October before the heavy freeze. The roots will get a drink as the ice melts during winter's freeze/thaw cycles. Shovel snow around the base of the plant to provide insulation.
