Caring For Roses

October 22, 2010

Hello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.

Caring For Roses

So many roses, so little time! The sheer number of choices when it comes to roses can be overwhelming. You’ll want to consider a few things before you head to your nursery or garden store. Decide ahead of time what color, size and type of fragrance you’d like. Of course, you may change your mind once you see all the possibilities. And that’s ok too. Just as long as you do the most important thing with regard to caring for roses, and that is, prepare! Roses do have some basic needs that you’ll have to consider, so keep the following key points in mind before you start.

Preparing The Soil

You will want to excavate a hole roughly twice the size of your root ball. Set the soil aside and mix with one cup bone meal, some good potting soil, and some compost if you have it. Manure is fine too. Potassium is important for your roses, so be sure to choose a bone meal with potassium listed as one of the ingredients. Loosen your root ball very gently, and place into the hole you’ve dug. Hold it up nice and straight as you begin to fill in your mixed soil. Once you have come just a few inches from ground level, tamp the soil down lightly and water. Now you can fill in the rest of the way. It’s that simple!

Location of Your Roses

Location is very important for roses. Roses need lots of sun, and they are also very hungry and thirsty plants. So choose a nice bright spot that gets at least 6-10 hours of direct sunlight each day, and also choose a spot that is well away from large trees. Large trees and plants can have huge root systems that will steal vital nutrients and water away from your roses.

Fertilizing

You roses can make the most of fertilizer in the early summer and late spring. This is when it is making fresh shoots and is in it’s growing stage. One you begin, you should fertilize every three weeks or so, keeping in mind to never wet the leaves, but to fertilize and water from the base of the plant, especially when you are using a liquid fertilizer. If you begin by fertilizing the soil in the spring, Miracle Grow Organic Choice Bone Meal is a great start for roses. It has the high level of potassium which was mentioned earlier, and that makes it ideal for your plants. Fertilizing is really important in keeping your plants healthy and growing strong. Don’t bother feeding in the Autumn, as your plant is hardening off for a long cold winter, and will not make good use of the food.

Pruning Roses

Here you’ll want to start by having good sharp pruning shears. Brand doesn’t matter, but they should fit your hand nicely and be easy to use. Pruning means removing the weaker parts of the plants, or any stems that have become unhealthy, dead, or weak. Deadheading is part of pruning as well. Simply pinch off wilted blooms as they appear. This’ll make your plants produce more blooms, and keep it looking fresh. Some folks cut their roses back in the fall, but there’s really no need to. Just prune using common sense.

Although roses have some very specific guidelines, those guidelines aren’t complicated at all. Just follow the basic rules here, and you’ll have lovely roses that can be a gorgeous compliment to your garden.

Sarah Thissell is a rose gardening authority. For more information on caring for roses, visit http://www.therosesguide.com