Featuring:

ISBN: 0-9625961-1-6

$14.95

1996

PHG, Inc.
(Phoenix Home Garden Magazine)

You can buy Roses in a Desert Garden now, from

Roses in a Desert Garden

by Hallie Beck

Thanks to respected Southwestern rosarian Hallie Beck, you CAN successfully grow Roses in a Desert Garden, as the title implies!

This mighty, 148 page reference book is witty, authoritative and right on the money when it comes to Southwest gardening. Although it's not the easiest book in the world to read (there's a lot of content jammed into this book due to a small type font and tight layout), the text is divine.

First of all, I can tell you, with experience, that growing roses in Arizona is not a piece of cake. It's a hobby that many rosarians take very seriously and can cause serious frustration for gardeners who are inexperienced or new to the area.

In this book, Ms. Beck applies her vast experience with roses in an enlightening and chatty manner. It's not a boring, tedious gardening book written by some East Coast gardening expert. It's conversational and should be required reading for anyone attempting to grow roses in the Southwest.

This nine-chapter book includes many valuable tips in how to select, plant and care for roses, along with new ways to use roses in established landscaping. Not only does it show readers how to plan a rose garden ("Roses are remarkably like human beings. As a rule of thumb, what makes a gardener happy makes the roses happy as well," says Ms. Beck), it makes gardening fun!

Chapter One answers the age-old question, "Why grow roses when you can grow something else?" and does a nice job in covering the diversity of roses including color, size and shape, growth patterns, colorful leave, fragrance, and wide climate adaptability.

If you're just beginning to plant a rose garden, read Chapter Two, "Clearing up the confusion", which explains budded plants, own-root plants, plant parts, roots, bare root, potted and containerized roses, deadheading, die-back, plant size, shapes, colors and more!

Chapter Three gets you ready to "think before you order- plan before you plant". How very wise words, indeed! Included in this chapter is a USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for those of us living in the Southwestern United States. Two of the most important topics, watering and digging "the almighty hole", are covered in this chapter. Interesting, is a recipe for "Hallie's Witch's Brew", the author's magical concoction to soak rose roots in before planting.

You'll learn about what roses need (care and feeding) in Chapter 4. The author goes into great detail about the proper rose food, and nutrients your roses need to in order to thrive in the desert. A great explanation of "why rose leaves turn yellow" is included in this chapter, as well as more hints on watering, and how to protect your roses from predators and disease.

The elements of a congenial environment are the topic of Chapter 5, where an excellent discussion of the importance of shade, moisture, and wind protection can be found. I'm all in favor of using shadescreens to shield roses from the blazing sun. I was elated to read that the author has sunscreened her entire back yard! You go, girl! Keep in mind that she has over 150 potted roses in her yard. Now, that's impressive!

You'll also find over 80 glossy color photos of various roses which will help you identify roses that you may want to plant or roses that are already established in your yard.

Learn how to make your "own special Eden" by reading Chapter 6, which deals with landscaping with roses. I liked the many rose garden layouts provided in this chapter, especially the one which helps incorporate a trellised rose garden into a backyard pool area. Not only is growing roses in the desert an art (oh, so many colors and shades!), it's a science. Author Ms. Beck has proved that she is a master of this lovely craft!

Skipping to Chapter Eight, you'll learn the magic behind pruning! As any rosarian will tell you, this is a "must-read" chapter!

Chapter Nine discusses "Roses by class", including their description, history, pruning and varieties, and more pruning tips.

If you're interested in roses and you live in the Southwest, by reading this book you can actually experience a 12-month growing season by successfully protecting your roses from the intense summer heat, while capitalizing on the mild winters.

I can't think of a handier book to have on my bookshelf than this one! In fact, this book is my personal favorite rose guide of all! Although published in 1996, first-edition copies are still available in a limited supply.