ROSE GARDENING
Many home gardeners feel that roses require special expertise and that
you need to be a mystic or an alchemist to successfully grow backyard
roses. Not so. Most rose failures can be traced back to basic
mistakes that are preventable once you know what they are. roses have
fundamental requirements and by following these six basic steps,
successful rose gardening is not only possible, but also easy,
enjoyable, and highly satisfying.
1. Buy Good Plants.
Buy roses from highly regarded local sources that specialize in roses
and other plants. These nurseries and garden centers are in the plant
business and sell quality roses. They will render advice on plant care
and will be able to assist you if there is a problem. Roses from these
sources are usually graded “number 1,” which is the highest grade in
their industry, and come from reputable growers. Plan to spend more on
these plants but their size and overall quality more than off set the
difference in price. It is true that cheaper roses are available in
discount stores, but they are smaller and generally receive no care
once they are placed on the sales table. You will find yourself
spending the first season nursing an inferior plant along and at the
end of the summer, when all is said and done, you have gained nothing.
Superior roses are available by mail order, also. Buying mail order
greatly increases your choices and the plants arrive in excellent
condition ready for planting.
2. Start with Good Soil.
Everything begins with the soil. Sandy loam drains very well but
doesn’t have enough of the organics that roses need to be ideal soil.
This is not a problem; we can build our own by simply adding organics.
These amendments are necessary, not so much for nutrition, but for soil
conditioning. They hold water, buffer the soil against wide swings in
pH, promote the growth of im****tant microorganisms, and generally
improve the tilth of the soil. Amend sandy loam with compost, horse
manure, peat moss, etc, all of which are available locally.
Ideal pH for roses is a slightly acidic 6.5 to 6.9. Roses will
tolerate pH down into the low 5’s, but beyond that, they become
malnourished even with nutrients present in the soil. This is due to
the extreme acidity which prevents the rose from absorbing these
nutrients. Our New England soil is naturally acidic, but this can be
overcome with pH monitoring and adding lime to the soil if necessary,
particularly in the fall as it takes several months for any change in
pH to take place.
Tip. Horse manure can be used fresh and need not be aged. There are
plenty of sources for horse manure in RI and stables are glad to be rid
of it for a nominal charge or, in some cases, free for the taking.
3. Six Hours of Sun (Minimum).
Shrubs that flower heavily need sun. Roses require a minimum of six
consecutive hours of daily sun****ne to optimize their flowering
capabilities. However, it is useful to know that varieties that have
fewer petals in the bloom will tolerate the shade more than heavily
petalled roses which need ample amounts of heat and light to open
properly. The color of the bloom is also affected by the amount of
sun…the more sun, the brighter the color.
Tip. Try growing roses in containers. This way they can be moved from
place to place in a shady yard thus gaining additional sun exposure
4. Roses Love to Drink.
Roses require water and plenty of it. It is difficult to over-water
roses planted in amended sandy loam. How much is enough? Don’t let
the soil dry out completely at the base of the plant. In cooler
weather, water a couple of times per week. In the heat of the summer,
everyday is not too much.
Tip. It is much better to give the plant a deep soaking, 4-5 gallons,
twice per week than to lightly water everyday.
5. Roses Love to Eat.
Flowering shrubs like roses need regular feeding all season. Commence
fertilizing when new spring growth reaches an inch or more, usually
around the first of May. Feed large roses 1 cup of 10-10-10 monthly
through August, then stop. For miniature roses cut the regimen in
half. Triple 10 is a balanced fertilizer that provides the essential
elements of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium that roses need for
robust health. It is inexpensive and available everywhere. Augment
this with water-soluble fertilizers applied at the recommended rates.
Specialty fertilizers with trace elements are good, but not essential.
roses can’t read and they eat anything.
Tip. Cutting the dosages in half and feeding twice as often is a
superior method of fertilizing if you have the time.
6. Insect and Disease Control.
Insects can be controlled as they appear with a variety of methods.
Control of fungi, on the other hand, needs to be preemptive as
blackspot s****es, for instance, are present on the foliage 30 days
before the spots occur. There are spray products available in garden
centers that effectively control all the common fungi in the home rose
garden. Follow the instructions and apply at the recommended rates.
An alternative to this is to plant varieties that have a demonstrated
resistance to disease and maintain a clean garden with ample air
circulation. Disease resistance has become a primary objective of
modern rose hybridizing and resistant varieties are introduced every
year.
Tip. Attack Japanese beetles in the larva stage in the soil with milky
s****e disease or lawn care treatments. This takes time but has long
lasting positive results.
For more Gardening Advice, Tips and Information - Visit:
Gardeniing Paradise at www.levsta.com
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