Growing Roses

Properly caring for roses assures a profusion of beautiful flowers throughout the growing season.

Growing Roses

For even a novice gardener, it is not difficult to learn how to grow roses.

Growing roses begins with finding healthy, disease-resistant varieties that are suitable for your region and planting them in an area that receives at least six hours of sun daily.

Space rose plants at least 2-3 feet away from each other and any other plants, in an area protected from excessive wind.

Dig a hole twice the size of the width of the plant, and plant in well-drained soil with a pH level of 5.5-7.0.

Add compost or cow manure to the soil if it is hard clay or sandy. Purchase roses in containers or buy bare roots.

Caring for Roses

Provide rose care by watering and fertilizing regular. Watering should be done in the morning hours, as soon as the soil appears to be drying out. Keep the plants well hydrated throughout the growing season.

Fertilize the plants with a rose food or general fertilizer at every stage of growth, such as when the first leaves appear, and after the first blooms.

Discontinue fertilizing at least two months before first frost. Late fertilizing will encourage new wood growth that will not be strong enough to tolerate winter.

Add a four to six inch layer of mulch around the base of the plant to lock in nutrients, keep the bed evenly moisture and weed diligently.

Pruning Roses

Pruning your plants is an important part of keeping a rose plant healthy.

Properly pruned rose plants will grow bigger and produce more flowers. To guard yourself from thorns, wear heavy-duty gardening gloves.

Use sharp pruning shears to prevent damaging the wood. Sterilize the shears by dipping in wood alcohol between cuts to prevent spreading disease.

Prune hybrid teas, grandifloras and floribundas in the spring. For roses that only bloom once a year, such as old-fashioned roses and climbers, prune after they have flowered for the season.

Cut the stems at a 45 degree angle, holding the shears with the point facing down. Cut above a bud that is facing out.

Trim off old, dead stems and reduce the length of healthy stems down to one to four feet tall.

Caring for your roses in this way to encourage lush, healthy growth and abundant flowering.

By selecting varieties that are appropriate to your region, planting them properly and giving them a little routine care and maintenance, your rose plants will reward you with beautiful flowers.

Growing roses is worth the minimal time and effort you will spend with them.