Rose garden care

Rose gardening can be one of the easiest forms of flower gardening as long as a few easy steps are followed. Rose bushes thrive in lots of sun and in soil that provides a good amount of nutrients. They will also need ample watering at first and added fertilizer as the soil becomes depleted. In addition, the roots of rose bushes should never be allowed to dry out and prefer a soil that is well drained.

In the spring

Roses bushes typically need to be pruned in the spring when established growth begins. For best results prune the canes back to a total of three that are about 5 inches long. Diseased or dead shoots should also be trimmed to ground level and any decaying leaves should be removed. For best results, the crossing shoots of rose bushes should also be removed and cut back to four or five hardy canes which can then be trimmed back to just above a bud that faces outward.

In the growing season

Roses bushes will need a lot of water and if there isn't enough natural rainfall you'll want to make sure your rose bushes get at least 2 gallons of water once a week. Take care to not wet the rest of the foliage as this can help enable the onset of fungal diseases. Your rose gardening will also be more successful if early plants are given plenty of water.

Rose bushes that are newly planted should also be given a shot of fertilizer immediately following their first blooming period. Compost, manure, and fish emulsion are ideal for rose gardens as roses prosper when presented with organic fertilizing methods. Rose bushes should also be fed a second time before their peak blooming period which typically occurs in June and then again sometime near mid-July. Take care not to water them after August as it will make the rose bushes more unsuitable to winter conditions.

Flowering can be promoted easily when rose gardening by simply pruning off spent flowers just above an outward facing leaf. When done on a cane strong enough to support new flowers, this can make your rose garden more vibrant.

In the winter

To keep your rose garden ready for the next flowering season a minimal amount of care will be needed to prepare them for winter's onset. As the cold season approaches, trim the canes back to about 3 feet and remove any dead or decaying leaves. Mound up the soil around the base of the plant until it is about 1 foot high to protect the roots from extreme differences in temperature.

Diseases and pests

Rose gardens that are thriving will stand much less a chance of attack from diseases and pests. If disease does make an appearance on your rose bushes, a variety of sprays can be used to eliminate them. Anti-transpirants and sulfur-based fungicides will treat many diseases while a mixture of baking soda and horticultural oil has been shown to be an effective way to control powdery mildew. In addition, whole need oil is a new product that in good for controlling multiple diseases and insects.

There are also a variety of sprays that are effective in eliminating, or at least reducing, insects and other pests from rose bushes. Although often overlooked, simply spraying water will prevent many problems with spider mites and aphids. Spray your rose bushes in the morning so they'll have plenty of time to dry out throughout the day. Insecticidal soaps and neem oil extracts are also excellent for removing unwanted pests but use caution when using neem oil sprays. These sprays will affect beneficial insects as well as harmful ones so they shouldn't be sprayed all over.