Pike Nurseries provides garden eye candy with rose plants for Valentine's Day and beyond

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and no other plant says “romance” quite like the iconic rose. While many people shower their sweeties with traditional cut flowers, there is another way to say “I love you” beyond the fleeting holiday.

To help customers think outside the flower box this sweetheart season, Pike Nurseries is now offering 60 different varieties of long-lasting rose plants – their largest selection of the year! Whether it’s for a Valentine’s Day gift or just a thoughtful surprise, Pike Nurseries offers the widest selection of rose plants with beautiful blooms to symbolize eternal love for many seasons to come.

In addition to shrubs, rose plants come in other size varieties, including low-growing ground cover roses, climbing roses and more. With long-lasting rose plants in the landscape, love-struck gardeners will be able to enjoy fragrant blooms that are perfect for cutting into bouquets of roses for special occasions throughout the year. Planting these roses in early February allows their roots to establish for a faster and stronger spring growth. For inexperienced horticulturists, Pike Nurseries offers a “Pick ‘n Plant” installation service that sends industry experts straight to their yards to ensure proper planting and set-up in the garden.

While red remains the most classic rose tint, Pike Nurseries offers a range of varietals in different colors, including buttery yellow, sunset orange, creamy white, velvety purple and more. All roses are guaranteed for life, and the garden center specifically selects varieties that will thrive in Georgia and North Carolina gardens, including the Mister Lincoln, Peace, Twilight Zone, Cherry Parfait, and Francis Meilland roses.

Pruning roses helps them retain a pretty shape and promotes the growth of healthy, beautiful blooms. To help customers care for their rose plants and ensure they flaunt a spectacular floral display for years to come, the experts at Pike Nurseries offer these top tips to keep in mind:

• Timing is everything

Typically, the best time to prune is in the early spring (mid February-early March), just as new growth is beginning to bud and when all chance of freezing is past.

• Prune to perfection

First, reduce the overall size of the plant by about 50 percent. After the plant is initially cut back, it’s time to make the more detailed cuts. Be sure to remove all dead canes, any remaining foliage and any branches that are crossing the center of the plant. A good rule of thumb is to reduce the overall number of canes to between three and seven. To prevent disease, use Bonide Pruning Sealer on fresh cuts to kill and keep out infections and insects.

• Clean-up is critical

After pruning, be sure to remove all plant litter and debris from under the plant. This ensures that any dormant inserts and disease are removed. The, spray the plant with Monterey Dormant Spray to be certain that any disease is knocked down. To help develop basal buds and lush green foliage, add one handful of organic E.B. Stone Rose and Flower Food around the base of the plant. The goal is to have an open vase-shaped plant with healthy canes that are evenly spaced to allow for ample air circulation.

For more information about rose varieties at Pike Nurseries, please visit www.pikenursery.com.

ABOUT PIKE NURSERIES

Ever committed to its customers’ gardening success, Pike Nurseries takes pride in taking the guesswork out of gardening. Offering superior knowledge, quality and selection in a friendly, caring environment, Pike Nurseries has been an Atlanta icon for over 50 years. Founded in 1958 by Pete Pike, its ability to adapt to market conditions and community needs has made it a respected Southern institution. As Atlanta’s oldest garden chain, Pike Nurseries has 16 retail locations in the Atlanta, Ga., and Charlotte, N.C. areas and employs the most certified garden experts. Now led by CEO Mike Kunce, Pike Nurseries looks forward to continued growth as it keeps Georgia and North Carolina beautiful, one landscape at a time.

For more information, please visit Pike Nurseries online at www.pikenursery.com.

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