Your Garden Grows

Rose Gardening

The bright vibrant hues of roses give gardens a splash of color.
The heady perfume of roses fill the air during summer. With so many different varieties to choose from, rose gardening is a wonderul experience.

Roses are hardy plants. Many gardeners are breeding new hardy varieties so that roses can now grow in any type of condition. Difficult soil and garden problems are no longer a issue to growing rose gardens.

The key to rose gardening lies in buying plants that are at least two years old and have been field grown with buds. If your young rose plants are pruned then the heavy stems need to be 1/4 inches in diameter at the top.  On the other hand if the rose plant is not pruned, then there should be three or more heavy stems that are 1/8 inches in diameter.

You need to plant your roses in a sunny, well-drained area. You should trim of all the broken stems off.  Roses needed to be eased into the ground. You first dig a hole 6 inches deeper than the roots need, then make the hole wider so that the roots will not grow crowded or bent.

The bottom of the hole should have small rocks or pebbles in it. This rock formation will aid in the drainage for the roses. After the stones have been placed, mix one tablespoon of fertilizer over the stones. Above this lay good fertile soil until the level is where you will plant your rose plant. In the mound of soil make a small hole and carefully plant your rose bush in there. You will need to make sure that the hole has room for the roots. Then cover the roots with soil, firming the soil every so often.

Rose gardening requires that you feed your roses at regular intervals to ensure healthy growth. The first feeding should therefore be given in early spring, before the roses bloom. The second feeding will come after the first heavy blossoming is finished. The third feeding occurs in late summer. If you are lucky there might be roses that will bloom until about November. If this is the case, then feed your plants a fourth time around

While all this care does help in rose gardening, chemical pesticides are needed to prevent chewing insects from damaging your roses. This pesticide also works to cut down on the fungus that likes to grow on roses.

Rose gardening is a lovely hobby. If you take care of your plant during the initial days, then you will be rewarded with big, vibrant blossoms that are a joy to behold.