What to Plant With Hybrid Tea Roses to Cut Down on Disease

Season

• Plant garden roses in early spring, when the ground thaws and warms to 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. These are summertime plants that prefer a warm-weather start. Plant the roses in the morning or on a cool day, to keep them from drying out during the transplant.

Site and Space

• Roses require adequate sun and space for growing. Crowded planting reduces sun and air circulation, and increases the chance of disease in the rose garden. Plant hybrid tea roses in spots that give them full sunshine, good drainage, consistent air circulation and at least 24 to 36 inches of space.

Soil and Water

• Healthy hybrid teas resist and survive disease more successfully than undernourished bushes. Amend the top 12 inches of soil in any planting site with 6 inches of organic compost to create rich, quick-draining soil. Add bone meal to the top 3 inches of soil, per manufacturer directions, to increase rooting. Feed roses with rose-specific fertilizer once a month, or after every flush of blooms. Follow manufacturer directions in regard to fertilizer application.

  Water roses with 2 to 3 inches of water a week to maintain good soil moisture. Always water the bases of the bushes, rather than the foliage, to discourage disease. Water the roses in the morning or mid-day so that they have time to dry before nightfall, to discourage disease.

Maintenance

• Good summer, fall and winter maintenance keeps hybrid tea roses healthy and cuts down on disease. Maintain a regular treatment schedule in spring, summer and fall with an organic or inorganic spray for rose diseases. Sprays prevent and treat rust, mildew and black spot. Prune rosebushes down to 24 to 36 inches in the fall. Cut away old blooms and remove foliage to keep diseases from starting or spreading. Prune the hybrid teas again in late winter, by about 1/3 to 2/3 of their growth, to encourage new, healthy growth and blooming.

Companion Planting

• Companion plants in the garden add more beauty, and help protect hybrid teas from pests like caterpillars, aphids and spider mites. Plant companion plants when the rosebushes are 2 to 3 years old, to give the roses time to get their roots settled. Choose annuals like marigolds and chrysanthemums to add flowering vegetation and drive away aphids and spider mites, or choose herbs like oregano, parsley, chives, basil and lavender. Onions and garlic also drive insects away from the garden, and make good border plants.