Yes, but they will perform best in slightly acid (6.0 to 6.8), rich in organic matter, loam soil, with excellent drainage. If your soil is sandy or clay it can be improved with the addition of organic matter. Soil pH can be raised with the addition of lime beginning with an application 6 lbs. per 100 sq. ft. or lowered beginning with 2 lbs. of sulfur per 100 sq. ft. If your soil is extremely poor, consider building 18" raised beds or removing and replacing existing soil to a depth 18 inches.

The key point in rose selection for Florida is locating a variety of rose that has been grafted onto the special root stock that grows best in central Florida. For year-round vigorous growth, choose roses grafted onto Rosa fortuniana or Dr. Huey root stock. The best tip for plant selection is to ask the "root stock" questions before purchasing a plant. See similar questions...

Roses are budded in order to assure the healthiest, most vigorous root system on every variety. There are however, a few commercial varieties being grown on their own roots. That being said, almost any variety can be grown from cuttings. Keep in mind you may not have the same long term success as with plants purchased from commercial producers. See similar questions...

Roses on the coast, when cared for properly, will grow taller and have larger flowers than in the hotter inland areas where the hot summer sun causes the bushes to quit growing. Though we don't have the heat problem, there are some roses that need more heat than our climate can provide in order to bloom properly. That is why it is especially important here to get varieties which do well in cool, damp climates. See similar questions...

Answer: Determining which colors go well with others can become a science if you let it. We've all seen the familiar "color wheel" that shows complementary and contrasting colors. Reviewing the fundamentals behind complementary and contrasting colors can help you choose which colors to select. But other factors also affect our sense of color. This includes: color brightness, color area (how big/small), color saturation, proximity of colors to one another, light and how we feel about colors. See similar questions...

None. Orchids do not grow in soil. In the wild, most orchids are found high above the jungle floor, in the tree canopy. For best results, orchids should be grown either in New Zealand sphagnum moss, fine orchid bark mix or medium orchid bark Mix. Orchids must be grown in pots with good drainage. Soil is bad for the plants because it cuts off air circulation at the roots and blocks the drainage of water. See similar questions...

All roses do the best when planted in full sunshine. This is especially true here on the coast. All yards have micro-climates in them, areas which are warmer or colder than the norm. It is best to find these warmer spots, preferably out of the wind. That said, there are bound to be times when an area of partial shade could be improved by the inclusion of a rose bush. In this case, there are certain musk roses which do quite well under these conditions. See similar questions...

Answer: There are about as many special recipes for rose fertilizer and techniques for feeding roses as there are rose growers. All you need to know is that for a rose to produce a good show of blossoms, it needs to be fed. That food may come in the form of compost or well-aged manure, or come in a bag or bottle of ready-to-use fertilizer. We prefer a mix of both. We apply a shovel-full of compost per rose in early spring and late fall. See similar questions...

A general answer to your question would be a soil that is moist and well drained. However, that only tells part of the story. You see, there are many types (species) of conifer. If you look, you can find a type of conifer for every type of soil. Some conifers grow only on sandy, well drained soils. Some only on soils that are wet most of the year. It's also important to find a soil with the right pH balance (pH tells whether the soil is acidic or basic). See similar questions...

Soil does not make plants grow. It is merely a medium that supports the plants roots. It is the nutrients within the soil and photosynthesis that make the plant grow. In hydroponics, you provide all nutrients to the plants through a nutrient and water solution. And support to the roots through the use of a medium. See similar questions...

It is messy and unnecessary. People who say that soilgrown wheatgrass has more minerals do not realize that plants do not absorb minerals from the ground until they have a taproot. Sprouts and wheatgrass are not grown long enough to have a taproot. I use kelp liquid as a foliar feeder and that adds all the minerals you need. Another reason not to use soil is that you can actually juice more of the whole plant when you don't have to worry about soil contamination in your juice. See similar questions...

The first year they grow somewhat differently. They produce vigorous canes of a smaller diameter than grafted roses. After their first pruning there will be little difference from a grafted rose. See similar questions...

E-mail the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District or call 703-324-1460, TTY 711 with your street address in Fairfax County, and staff can identify the soils at that location if the area has been mapped. If you live in Arlington County, call 703-228-3629, TTY 711 for soils information or view a map online (pdf). No information is currently available for the City of Alexandria or the City of Falls Church because the soils have not been mapped. See similar questions...

We recommend a 60:40, Sand: Soil mix which can be purchased from your local Soil or Nursery Supplier but any type of soil from a sandy loam to a heavier dark Soil can be used provided there is good drainage. Good soil may already exist on site, which may only require weed removal and sometimes the addition of some sandy topsoil to assist in leveling. See similar questions...

Rhizomes are not terribly picky. Be sure there is adequete drainage as standing water will rot the roots. The pH of the soil should be between 5.5 and 8.0 (our organic gardening store sells test kits: www.midwesthydroponics.com) See similar questions...

Absolutely! Before commercial fertilizers were commonly available, people were sucessfully growing healthy, vibrant roses using what we eould now call organic methods. (You don't think Empress Josephine ran out to buy the economy size of Miracle Gro for Malmaison twice a season, do you?!) My personal view of rose gardening is to focus on issues of soil health, with sustainability being of the utmost importance. (Not everyone will agree with me, and thats okay too.... See similar questions...

The proper tool for most pruning is a sharp clean set of bypass pruners. Anvil pruners should not be used for roses as they crush the stem being cut. A saw or lopping shears may be used to cut very large canes (1/2 inch diameter or greater) All pruning cuts on canes greater than 1/4 inch diameter should be sealed with nail polish or glue to prevent cane borers from entering. Proper pruning will help keep a rose bush healthy. See similar questions...

Some roses may grow reasonably well in partial but not dense shade. They will produce fewer blooms and may grow a little more "leggy" but still provide beauty. Albas and hybrid musk roses, in general, are recommended for partial shade. In our print catalog, those roses that can tolerate some shade are indicated by the letters 'SH' in the code at the bottom of each rose description. All roses do well in full sun. See similar questions...

Absolutely Yes! There are hybridizers who have made certain that you can grow roses anywhere except for the most extreme arctic type climates. The Canadian Government has sponsored a rose hybridizing program that has developed hardy varieties. The 'Explorer' series is one of these. Also Dr. Griffith Buck of Iowa, USA, spent his lifetime developing cold hardy roses. These are known as 'Buck' roses, and many of these varieties are still available. Also Dr. and Mrs. See similar questions...

You may pick up a soil testing kit at the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office or at any Fairfax County public library. The kit has instructions explaining how to send a sample to a lab at Virginia Tech. For a fee of $7.00, the soil testing lab will send you an analysis within two weeks. "Testing Your Soils Fertility," an article from the NVSWCD's publication Conservation Currents provides additional information. See similar questions...