Among other aspects of gardening roses care should be a key factor in keeping the garden look at its very best throughout the seasons.
To provide the optimum growing conditions roses require as much sun as possible with free air circulation and a well drained acidic soil. For those living in hot dry zones roses should be planted in areas of the garden which have afternoon shade to prevent them from scorching.
Roses need good drainage to thrive; therefore areas which have a tendency not to drain well should have gravel placed in the bottom of the trench before the roses are planted. Roses also are inclined to suffer from mildew problems if they do not have sufficient air circulation, although roses will grow close to a wall, ideally they should be planted approximately three foot away to help prevent mildew.
Climbing roses can be trained or supported with a trellis placed against a wall, this will also help the air circulation.
With roses care the planting beds should be prepared two weeks in advance and a mixture of compost and half rotten manure dug into the soil of the bed before planting.
The planting hole should be dug sufficiently deep to cover the bud graft and wide enough to to take the spread of the roots, the soil should be mounded up slightly in the centre of the hole. Prune off any damaged roots and nip off the tips of several roots before positioning the rose in the hole. Replace half of the soil and then pour a bucket (pail) of water into it and allow it to be fully absorbed before filling the hole with the rest of the soil and firming down. If the rose has straggly canes, cut them back to six inches above the ground.
During dry seasons roses should be given sufficient water to reach the roots on a weekly basis, watering in the mornings will help reduce the risk of mildew.
Roses are best watered at the base using a slow trickle hose and the leaves should be kept dry whenever possible. If the summer is particularly hot provide a thick mulch to help retain the water.
In zones which fall below ten degrees in the winter roses will need to be protected. After cutting the roses back hard, mound up the soil to a depth of approximately eight inches.
When the ground has frozen cover the mounds with a thick layer of straw, manure and compost combined together. When the first signs of spring arrives carry on gardening, and help with the roses care by removing the mulch.
Learn the secrets to growing a successful organic vegetable garden.
Posted on August 28th, 2008 by Jean-Helene
Filed under: Roses Care