Garden Tips

By Wendy Pan

With "Delicate as a rose" as a popular figure of speech with poets and writers, the common misconception that the care of roses requires high maintenance comes as no surprise. But roses are actually shrubs with a few manageable requirements to ensure healthy plants with bountiful blooms.

Watering: Providing a thorough, slow soaking to roses a few times a week is the most critical chore. Direct the water into the soil to soak the roots, not the leaves. Watering in the morning instead of the evening prevents lingering moisture from causing diseases.

Weeding: Weed out perennials and cultivate the soil around the roses regularly. Spreading a mulch of wood chips, pine needles, or other biodegradable material will inhibit weed growth. Avoid using systemic herbicides, as roses are sensitive to them.

Pest control: In rainy and humid areas, the care of roses involves watching for diseases such as black spot, in which black spots develop on the leaves, and mildew, which causes leaves to turn white. Common fungus diseases include rust, which is characterized by raised orange spots on the undersides of leaves, and rose canker, which leaves brown patches on the stems. A fungicide can be used for any of these diseases; consult a garden center for appropriate products and carefully follow directions for use. Clean pruners with alcohol to avoid spreading disease.

Roses can also harbor insect pests. Aphids secrete a substance that attracts ants, and spider mites construct webs on the undersides of leaves. Wash them away by blasting the leaves with water from the hose. A more serious predator, common in the Eastern United States, is the Japanese beetle, which will feed on the flowers and foliage of roses growing in bright sunlight.

Gardeners who wish to avoid using insecticide granules or sprays can try milky spore disease powder to kill the grubs. A pyrethrum spray can be used to combat thrips and leafhoppers.

Pruning and deadheading: Although pruning is not a critical task in the care of roses, it is highly recommended for ensuring healthy, well-shaped plants and abundant flowering. In the spring, after removing dead branches, prune the plant back by about one third or even one half, until the centers of the stems look white instead of brown. Make slanted cuts above outward facing buds with five leaflets to promote growth in that direction. Pruning rose bushes allows more sunlight and increases air circulation to the plant. In the summer, deadhead roses by cutting off dead flowers to encourage more blooming (depending on the variety).

Winter protection: As the summer winds down, so will the care of roses. Do not fertilize roses in the fall, because promoting new growth will make them more vulnerable to cold. In areas where the temperatures can fall below 20 degrees F, protect the roots by building a mound of soil about 6 to 12 inches high around the plants. When new growth appears at the base in the spring, the mounds may be removed.

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about care of roses, please visit How Do I Care For Roses for current articles and discussions.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wendy_Pan

By Matthew Buquoi

There are a few tips and information about growing roses to be considered and a few requirements to optimize the growth of your roses. Generally speaking, however, roses are very versatile and can withstand harsh conditions and yet thrive. The basic fundamentals of getting the most out of your roses is to consider: the soil, the exposure, location, feeding, mulching, and pruning. If you put just a tad bit of attention to each of these facets and follow our tips for growing roses, then your roses will be a hit all though out the spring and summer without missing a beat.

Sun Requirements: Roses need at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight every day. Early morning sun is the best to protect against mildew. Although roses can go with less sun, they usually will not survive as long and will have fewer and smaller blooms.

Soil Requirements: Roses prefer loamy soil with a high-humus content. Working compost, peat moss, leaf mold and well-rotted manure into the soil will provide them with a rich environment. The soil can be fertilized additionally with bone meal and super-phosphate. Soil with a pH of 6.5 is best. PH meters are available to test your soils acidity level. Roses must have good drainage. Avoid planting in low areas where water collects. Roses do not do well in standing water and other overly saturated regions. If your soil is especially heavy, add sand for drainage.

Location and/or Containers: Plant roses at least 18-24" away from buildings. Roses must have air circulation surrounding them. This will minimize any mildew from forming. They should also not be planted too near larger plants. Larger plants can carry away nutrients, water, and food and keep the roses from extracting the most from the soil. For smaller roses, you can plant them in a container or a window box to show them off in different ways. Window boxes are a unique way to show off roses that can draw remarks from the neighbors.

Feeding: After roses are in full leaf, apply a balanced fertilizer. We recommend using a food specifically designed for roses. Fertilize again after the first bloom and once more 6 weeks before the first fall frost. These are the smallest feeding recommendation. A few more times during the growing season, however, usually helps the roses fill out more.

Mulching: Mulch provides many benefits to roses. Add a layer 2 to 3 inches thick to your rose bed to keep the moisture in and to help keep the weeds away. This tip for growing roses is surprisingly effective and you'll notice quite a difference when they begin to bloom.

Pruning: Pruning roses is vital in their continued success. The first step in pruning roses is to remove any dead, dying, damaged, diseased, weak or thin canes. Prune the branches back as far as the crown. Any shoot growing from below the graft is called a sucker and should be removed.

Pruning an already healthy rose is an important part of the process. Cutting a bloom not only allows you to enjoy it's beauty and scent, it helps shape the rose. Cut the flower stem no shorter than just above the first five-leaflet leaf below the flower you are removing. Also, you will need to leave at least two five-leaflet leaves above to point of the previous cut. It's best to cut a rose at a 45 degree angle roughly 1/4 of an inch from the outside bud. This seems complicated, but when you go to prune it will make perfect sense.

Roses are an exceptionally versatile, useful, and beautiful landscape plant. By following some basic tips and advice on growing roses and how to plant them, you will be on your way to years full of beautiful roses.

Matt Buquoi is the owner of Flower Window Boxes, a window box company that specializes in affordable no rot window boxes. His window boxes have been featured in many cottage and cape cod style homes showing off an array of beautiful flowers. These no rot window boxes can be made custom and fast anywhere in the country.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Buquoi