Rose Care And Maintenance For Healthy Flowering Plants



Rose care is an extremely important part of growing roses if you want to get the very best from your plants. And whilst over the years we have been extremely fortunate to have many plant breeders who have provided us with roses that grow well in adverse conditions, that flower from early in the summer to first frost, maintenance and care is the key to success.

Applying the appropriate plant nutrition is an essential part of rose care, and easy to do with complete plant food. This food provides all of the essential elements that is required from the soil.

Diseases and insects can be prevented by the regular use of insecticide/fungicide that deals with the majority of gnawing and sucking insects, as well as fungus diseases. By using a few important aids and a little determination anyone can become successful at growing roses.

It all starts by purchasing healthy plants, more commonly known as good stock. Plants that are a couple of years old, field grown and budded are preferable.

Rose plants that aren't pruned should really have three or more heavy 18-inch canes. Pruned rose plants should have canes with a diameter of at least 1/4 inch at the top.

Planting Roses

Many gardeners prefer to have their roses potted in tar paper pots as these can be transplanted at just about anytime of the year.

When it comes time to plant your roses, choose a sunny, well drained spot. Cut off all damaged and bruised roots, trim the top growth back to six to eight inches.

Planting holes should be at least six inches deeper than required for the root of the plants. Make sure that you add a small amount of small rocks or stones at the base for drainage. Mix in a small amount of fertilizer and place over the drainage material.

Then simply cover this mixture with soil, bringing the level to the correct planting depth. Prepare a mound in the middle to receive the plant and set the roots over the top, spreading out the roots and then fill in with soil. Once this has been done firm the soil down by pressing firmly two or three times whilst filling the hole.

Feeding Roses

Rose care is extremely important if you want to get the very best from your plants, this is where feeding the appropriate food comes into play. The initial feeding should be in springtime the moment leaf buds start to swell.

Remove the mulch and work plant food into the soil around the rose plant. Use only a small amount of fertilizer for each plant, the exact quantity should be shown on the instructions. A second feeding should be made at the same rate and rigtht after the initial heavy bloom.




Miracle-Gro For Roses gives you the "rose expert" touch. This water-soluble rose and flower food produces up to 3 times as many blooms.

Miracle-Gro produces outstanding results throughout your flower garden. The fact is that there are many rose growing enthusiasts who swear by this product as a result of healthier plants, bigger brighter flowers, and sturdier transplants.




A third feeding is also applied at the same rate and made at the end of summer with the possible exception of northern areas which should not be later than mid August.

However, in southern areas where flowering stretches into October and November, a fourth feeding is recommended around the beginning of October. A large number of growers also include a regular monthly feeding into their rose care program throughout the growing season with great results.

Diseases and Insects

Roses can be susceptible to many diseases and insects, but these are easy to control with the frequent use of chemicals. These control the majority of fungus diseases and gnawing insects. Combined with regular dusting every seven to ten days this will make these problems much easier to deal with.

Mulching throughout the summertime will help to eliminate weeds, minimize moisture evaporation and the need for cultivation.

Pruning Roses

Bush types should be pruned in the springtime when leaf buds start to swell, but before growth begins. With regards to the winter months, it's the changing freezing and thawing that's so damaging to your roses. That's where winter mulching with straw or peat moss is suggested apart from the extreme southern areas of the United States.




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