Cultivating Partnerships
A partnership has bloomed with the City of Helena, Alabama and Texas A&M AgriLife Research. What started as an idea to Helena Beautification Board Vice Chairman, Brian Puckett from Dr. Steve George of Texas A&M, a full Earth-Kind Confirmational Rose trial was born. Helena will be the first municipality to partner with Texas A&M to complete a full Earth Kind rose trial. Texas A&M AgrilLife Research led by Dr. George has completed five years of research on these cultivars and have been able to narrow the list down to 24 finalist that could become the next generation of Certified Earth Kind Roses.
After months of planning by the Helena Beautification Board, the trial will kick off with a ribbon cutting and planting ceremony to officially open the trial. As a part of this three year research partnership, the Helena Beautification Board will complete weekly studies on each of the 78 roses planted and provide all findings to our research partners at Texas A&M.
The purpose of this confirmational trial is to determine what varieties of roses grow well without the use of chemical pesticides, be disease resistant without the use of fungicide and drought tolerant. The trial will ultimately demonstrate which varieties could be planted by the everyday gardener or homeowner very limited to no work and enjoy the beauty of the world's most beloved flower.
The roses that produce the best will be certified as Earth Kind Roses.
After months of planning by the Helena Beautification Board, the trial will kick off with a ribbon cutting and planting ceremony to officially open the trial. As a part of this three year research partnership, the Helena Beautification Board will complete weekly studies on each of the 78 roses planted and provide all findings to our research partners at Texas A&M.
The purpose of this confirmational trial is to determine what varieties of roses grow well without the use of chemical pesticides, be disease resistant without the use of fungicide and drought tolerant. The trial will ultimately demonstrate which varieties could be planted by the everyday gardener or homeowner very limited to no work and enjoy the beauty of the world's most beloved flower.
The roses that produce the best will be certified as Earth Kind Roses.
Trial Grounds
The trial grounds are broken up into three separate blocks each consisting of the 24 cultivars. In August 2017, the City of Helena began tiling up the grounds and will work the soil a total of seven times before the planting takes place. Each block spans 260 feet long and 10 feet wide. The three blocks will consist of the 24 cultivars plus a buffer plant on each side with each plant planted in a randomized order. The plants will all be spaced 10 feet a part allowing them plenty of air move throughout all sides of each plant. A three inch layer of mulch is applied to keep moisture in and weeds away. We will never put any additives in the soil or spray any chemicals.
Trial Research
The main purpose of this trial is to provide research and valuable insight into how each plant is performing over the three year period. Observations of each plant will take place on a regular basis and will consists of how the plant is growing, the blooming habits and any disease or shortcomings they may have.
Trial Progress
As the trial progresses, we will post updated pictures and results.