Caring for Roses
3 Steps in Caring for Roses that Get Beautiful Results
Roses are among some of the most beautiful and cherished flowers that we love to include in our gardens. If you have ever tried to grow them, you know that they have a reputation for being hard to care for. If you are new to rose growing and are hesitant about trying it, don’t be discouraged. There are steps designed for the proper care of roses that, if followed, will result in beautiful roses.
Step One-Watering
It is often said that roses require lots of attention to keep them blooming and looking their best. Among the steps for proper care is the need for adequate water, but how much water? Roses need about one inch of water each week. Their roots need special attention as they grow deep into the ground. As a result they are capable of extracting water from the sub-soil although the surface of the rose bed is dry. This feature helps them survive during dry spells. Watering the roots of the roses promotes growth deep into the soil. If roses are watered lightly it causes the roots of the plant to grow near the surface in search of water. This practice weakens the plant’s ability to handle the drying of the upper layer of soil during droughts, and should be avoided.
Step Two-Fertilizing
For proper care roses will need fertilizing. Many species of roses are capable of going years without food if they are planted in good soil. Plants feed on nutrients that are produced from living organisms in the soil, and the over-use of chemical fertilizers can smother the beneficial bugs. Your plants can also become dependent on chemical fertilizers requiring you to continually use them. The recommended alternative is for owners to apply a slow-release fertilizer to the soil just as the plant is emerging from its dormancy period in the spring as the roses are “waking up.” After the blooms go away and the plant is storing up energy for the next season you can also apply a small amount of fertilizer. One of the foremost companies specializing in roses recommends the following when fertilizing roses:
• Fertilize when plants are in full leaf
• Fertilize again after first bloom.
• Fertilize six weeks prior to fall frost.
• For proper hardening of canes for winter, do not fertilize late in the fall.
Roses do well with both inorganic and organic fertilizers. The advantage of organic fertilizing materials is the fact that they can be digested by the helpful bacteria and fungi within the soil. This results in your soil becoming more fertile with permanent benefits. The most effective combination of inorganic fertilizer is 5-10-5 or 4-8-4. These are available at your local nursery, lawn and garden store or by catalog.
Step Three-Pruning
When should pruning be done? Pruning is very important in caring for roses. Usually pruning is done in the spring after the plant has been dormant over the winter. Pruning at this time is to remove any dead, broken or diseased wood from the plant. This provides the plant space for the air to circulate through it and keep it healthy. Pruning is done to shape the rose plant. While the roses are blooming pruning the actual flowers themselves promotes growth and by removing the flower buds helps to establish a new plant. After the plant has bloomed you will need to prune the plant again.
Caring for roses takes time and dedication but the results are well worth the effort. For those of you who are new to rose growing remember that it takes patience, knowledge and skill to be a successful rose grower. The rewards are worth it when you see the beautiful creations blooming in your rose garden or in your landscaping for everyone to enjoy!
For the rest of the story get Guide to Growing Roses here
