Angelina County Master Gardeners

Earthkind Rose Trials

Angelina Master Gardeners are participating in an Earthkind rose trial, a four year trial of five varieties. This is part of a nationwide trial and the first of its kind in Angelina County. Earthkind roses are grown without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides making them easy for the average gardener to grow. More information is available at http://earthkindroses.tamu.edu.

The public is invited to view the rose trial beds. EarthKind roses will be available for sale in the Plant Sale April 4, 2009.

Four rose bushes of five varieties were planted in beds at the Angelina County Extension office on March 29, 2007 by Rose Trial committee members, including Linda Snider, Susan Williams, Virginia McHaney and Marlow Shubert. The varieties include Bright Melody, Dorcus, Do-se-do, Malaguena, and Care Free Beauty. Care Free Beauty is a proven Earthkind rose and is a control specimen for this study.

Plans for the Earthkind Rose trials began April 2006 when the Master Gardener association agreed to support this project. Funding was secured from private donations and a matching funds program from Temple Inland. In the fall of 2006 beds were designed, landscape timbers purchased and compost was tilled into the site. In February 2007 tilling was completed by Marlow Shubert using Angelina and Neches River Authority's Soil Therapy Compost. Two loads of compost were donated by Angelina and Neches River Authority to the project.

Roses were purchased from Chamblee's in Tyler. Beds were mulched with additional compost. Hoses and emitters have been laid for the watering system. No pesticides or chemical fertilizers will be applied to the roses, and the only care will be regular watering and hand weeding. Mulch will protect the roses from temperature changes, control weeds and conserve moisture.