Advice on Growing Roses

There are a few basic requirements to be considered and a little bit of advice for growing roses that we recommend. Generally speaking, however, roses are very versatile and can withstand harsh conditions and yet thrive. If you follow our advice for growing roses you'll be astonished at how easy they can be to grow and maintain. This makes them the perfect project for a beginner or novice gardener or someone who just loves the beauty that roses can add. The basic fundamentals of getting the most out of your roses is to consider: the soil, the exposure, the feeding, and the pruning. If you put just a tad bit of attention to each of these facets and follow some of our advice, then your roses will be a hit all though out the spring and summer without missing a beat.

Sun Requirements: Roses need at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight every day. Early morning sun is the best to protect against mildew. Although roses can go with less sun, they usually will not survive as long and will have fewer and smaller blooms. Try placing them on a side of your house where they will get morning sun and partial shade late in the afternoons.

Soil Requirements: Roses prefer loamy soil with a high-humus content. Working compost, peat moss, leaf mold and well-rotted manure into the soil will provide them with a rich environment. Add bone meal or superphosphate fertilizer to your soil before planting to further enrich the soil. Soil with a pH of 6.5 is best. PH meters are available to test your soil's acidity level from a local nursery. Roses must have good drainage. Avoid planting in low areas where water collects. Roses do not do well in standing water and other overly saturated regions. If your soil is especially heavy, add sand for drainage. The fineness of the particles will help water filter and disperse.

Location: Plant roses at least 18-24" away from buildings. Roses must have air circulation surrounding them. This will minimize any mildew from forming. They should also not be planted too near larger plants. Larger plants can steal and carry away nutrients, water, and food and keep the roses from extracting the most from the soil. For smaller roses, you can plant them in a container or flower box to show them off in different ways. Window boxes are a unique way to show off roses that can draw remarks from the neighbors.

Feeding: After roses are in full leaf, apply a balanced fertilizer. There are foods specifically for roses that are recommended that you can get from a local nursery. Fertilize again after the first bloom and once more 6 weeks before the first fall frost. These are the smallest feeding recommendation. A few more times during the growing season, however, usually helps the roses fill out even more.

Mulching: Mulch provides many benefits to roses. Add a layer 2 to 3 inches thick to your rose bed to keep the moisture in and to help keep the weeds away. This simple advice on growing roses is surprisingly effective and will go a long way towards having healthy roses in full bloom.

Pruning: Pruning roses is vital in their continued success. The first step in pruning roses is to remove any dead, dying, damaged, diseased, weak or thin canes. Cut these branches flush with the crown. Any shoot growing from below the graft is called a sucker and should be removed. Pruning a healthy rose is just as important. Cutting a bloom not only allows you to enjoy it's beauty and scent, it helps shape the rose. Cut the flower stem no shorter than just above the first five-leaflet leaf below the flower you are removing. Also, you will need to leave at least two five-leaflet leaves above to point of the previous cut. All cuts should be at a 45 degree angle exactly 1/4 inch above the outside bud. This seems complicated, but when you go to prune, you will understand.

Roses have the ability to be very hardy in a range of conditions and yet add beauty and usefulness to your landscaping. By following some of our basic advice on growing roses, you will be on your way to years full of beautiful roses and envy from your neighbors.

Flower Boxes
Flower Boxes are a great way to showcase flowers from your home