Rose Care |
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Growing beautiful roses starts with proper location and planting techniques. Roses require at minimum of six hours of direct sunlight a day although full sun is ideal. Do not crowd roses in amongst other plants, which would compete for moisture and nutrients. Also choose a site with adequate air movement to cut down on fungal problems. Roses grow best in well-drained soil with plenty of organic material. Consider working compost, peat moss, or manure into the soil, preferably before the rose is planted. Because roses are heavy feeders, a routine fertilization program is important. In general, roses perform well with 3 applications per year of a granular feed, such as Espoma Rose-Tone. Prior to adding anything to the soil, a soil test should be performed to see what is truly lacking. This test should indicate the soil pH which for roses, ideally should be between 5.5-7.0. If the soil is not within this range, adding dolomitic lime will raise the pH and adding sulfur will lower it. Insects and diseases can become unwelcome guests to a rose garden. Keep the ground free from fallen leaves and debris that harbor these pests. Do not water roses from above; rather water the soil area below the plant. This helps stop certain diseases from spreading such as Black Spot. This disease looks exactly like its name indicates; irregular, black blotches on the leaves and is the most common of rose diseases. Insects such as aphids and spider mites can also create problems with roses. Check underneath leaves and on tender new growth for any sign of these pests. Sprays are available
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that treat both insect and disease problems on roses. This type of treatment should be reapplied several times for maximum effectiveness. Pruning a rose is essential in keeping up the appearance of the plant and to control its flowering. Removing the spent blooms, or deadheading, encourages more flowering on varieties that are considered ever-blooming. Periodic pruning also lets sunlight and air to the center of the plant to prevent sites for diseases or insects. In general, roses should be pruned just before growth begins in March or early April. There are exceptions, such as heirloom roses and some climber that produce flowers on the previous year’s wood. First remove any dead or diseased wood. Cut the stems slightly below the darkened area, making sure to cut into the green wood. The cuts should be at a 45-degree angle, right above an outward bud. Also remove any crossing branches that may rub against each other or suckers that emerge from the base. Hybrid teas, grandifloras, and floribundas should be pruned to12-24 inches in height, leaving up to a dozen healthy canes. Most climbing roses can be pruned in early spring. Prune canes on an angle, while leaving about four or five buds per stem. After the first hard frost in the fall, rose bushes should be winterized. If canes are higher that three feet, trim them down and tie together to avoid breakage. Mound about twelve inches of Soil Conditioner mulch or similar material on the base, making sure the crown is fully covered. As an alternative, roses can be winterized with rose cones or wire cylinders filled with leaves or straw. In the late winter or early spring, remove any winterizing material including most of the mulch, leaving about two inches at the base.
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