anyone know how i should protect a rosebush? i need to plant it in a space that is irrigated but i want to protect it from the irrigation. it will be a big bush

Welcome to NGA, raer. Can you elaborate some more? Why "protect it from the irrigation"? Are you thinking of winter issues? Avoiding fungal issues? Something else? In AZ, you can always set a sprinkler to activate around sunrise so the rose bush does not stay wet for long periods of time and that minimizes fungal issues. Make sure it has 2-4" of organic mulch up to the drip line in order to minimize moisture loss an protect the roots from hot/cold temperature extremes.

the rosebush will get flood irrigated every month. i cannot stop it. how should I keep it from drowning?

Welcome Raer! You don't say where you are. That makes a big difference. But I would dig DEEP and make sure it has really good drainage. It may not be enough but is worth a try.

ok. btw, i am in arizona

FYI: the American Rose Society has a chapter in Mesa; see:

https://www.roses4az-mevrs.org...

When you say the area will be "flooded," do you mean that water will flow through the area an inch or two deep, and then out? Or do you mean that the whole dang plant will be under water?

Do you mean that the water will flow gently in, and then soak in?

Or do you mean it will be rapidly-moving water?

Or do you mean something like a rice paddy?

more flow in gently, cover about 4-5 in, then soak in

In your conditions, if drainage is as good as I expect it is, a rose of good size might survive that.

But to increase your odds of success, I'd suggest a raised bed. If the rose is planted in a bed that's been raised, say, 12-inches, the floodwaters shouldn't go over it. Of course the root area will be wet, but with your normally-arid (Mesa, AZ, right?) that shouldn't be a terrible problem.

But I'm curious . . . What is the purpose of the flooding?

Jerigen, I could be wrong but, I think, what raer is trying to do is use a common, cheap farming watering practice in Arizona, where you contact the Salt River Project (or other organization) to schedule when to receive the water, sent via canals. SRP (or whomever) is the owner of the water and this costs almost like pennies a year (maybe not literally). Older homes have access to this flood irrigation (usually, you do something like schedule things, open a sleuth gate and flood your yard). Mesa Community College does that in Mesa for their rose garden.

raer: please contact Steve Sheard at the Mesa Rose Society. He is a good Master Consulting Rosarian there and is familiar with the flood watering program at the Mesa college too: [email protected] PS - I told Steve that you would be emailing him.

Luis -- I'd love to have such a source of water!

That is so interesting, Luis! I had never heard of that program but it makes sense for a dry area like that.

Raer, I'd go with these folk's advice. I'm in damp Michigan and know very little about arid gardening. I wish you good luck and would love to see pictures of your garden!