Caring For Your Rose
Roses are the most recogonizable flowers in the world used to celebrate many occasions, but how do you care for these romantic flowers.
Caring for roses is an interesting topic. Roses are said to be hardy enough to grow anywhere yet in the same sentence you’re told they require special care and anything less than constant attention leads to nothing but doom for your rose. So whats the deal?
Can roses grow anywhere? Yes and no. Just like any other garden plant it may depend on the microclimate or soil of your garden. If one rose doesn’t seem to be working in a spot after two to three years move it to a different spot if that doesn’t work, dig it up and throw it in the compost pile. Their is a right rose for your garden you just have to find what works where you live. Soil, light levels, microclimate, can be different than your neighbors.
Roses first and foremost are garden plants. When planting your rose prepare the whole garden bed, me personally I use a compost made of leaf mould and cow manure. Preparing where you’re going to plant your rose in this way will make not only your rose easier to plant, but save you on having to feed it since the rose will be getting all the goodness it needs from the soil. Creating a good bed of soil will keep your rose nice and healthy; just like eating healthy food keeps us healthy.
When planting your rose which can be done in spring or fall; make sure you cover the bud union or knot on your rose; doing so will help prevent wind rock caused by wind hitting your rose loosening the soil around the roots of the rose.
Here comes the part you were probably dreading me bringing up pruning and grooming. Pruning is something you do once a year. Here in New England our roses go dormant. If you live in a place where your roses go dormant prune your roses in the spring when the forsythia start to bloom. If you live in a warmer climate talk to other gardeners in your area to see when they typically prune. Grooming is something to do throughout the year removing old flowers (deadheading), trimming to give your rose shape or controlling its size. Remember the 3 D’s dead, diseased, dying well taking care of your rose
Never ever cut a rose down to the ground or down to 18 inches unless its old and your reinvigorating it or your showing roses. Pruning garden roses hard will make the rose focus its energy in growing and not producing blooms causing you to get less blooms. Not pruning hard will also give you a nice full rose.
The first year you plant a rose don’t prune at all besides taking out anything dead. Newly planted roses need all the top growth to help feed the growth of the root system.
Shrub roses prune only 1/3 of the mature height off the rose don’t try to keep a tall shrub rose small it will never be happy. Take out any dead or damaged canes as well as any canes that are crossing and rubbing against each other.
Climbing roses may take a couple of years to flower and flower on side shoots grown the same spring. Never cut the canes on a climbing rose only cut the side shoots. Train the canes laterally or at 45 degrees if not a climbing rose will not flower. Side shoots come off the main canes; you can prune down to 2 leaf buds, a foot 2,3,4,5 its up to you. Do you want your climbing rose neat and tidy or a little more wild you decide.
Rambling roses are more vigorous than a climbing rose and also flower on the previous seasons growth. Climbers can get extremely big and will go up trees or up and over buildings. Keep it neat and tidy or as loose as you want.
Roses belong in every garden and are tough plants that require little care when planted in the right spot and taken care of with not much effort.
