Rose Care
From Hardy Shrub to Hybrid Tea’s, roses are available in a wide range of sizes, colors, and shapes. The one thing that is consistent with all of them is care. Roses benefit from full sun, well-drained soil, water, fertilizer, and pruning.
To reach their full potential, roses need 6-8 hours of sun per day. Sun is beneficial because it promotes growth, lush foliage, blooms, and helps strengthen the plants disease resistance. Without the proper amount of sunshine, roses become leggy and often don’t bloom.
Roses require a well-drained soil. They can not handle a soil that is constantly moist. A heavy clay soil is intolerable. Good soil for growing roses consists of organic and inorganic material. About 1/3rd of the soil should be organic material such as composted leaves or composted manure. The other 2/3rds of the soil should be a mix of clay, sand and silt. A well-drained soil allows oxygen to the roots of the plant, water to drain, and space for the roots to grow.
Roses need at least an inch of water a week whether from rain or a hose. You can’t control where rain falls, but you should always water your rose plant at the base. Overhead watering is one of the reasons why fungal diseases develop on a rose. If overhead watering is the only option, it is then best to water the roses early in the morning so that the leaves have enough time to dry during the day.
Roses are heavy feeders. A well-balanced meal of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) are essential for roses. Too much nitrogen in the diet encourages luscious foliage with few blooms. Roses grow best with a combination of the three but not too heavy on one ingredient. When using a liquid fertilizer, roses should be fed every 4-6 weeks throughout the growing season. It is important to stop feeding around the middle of August so plants have time to store nutrients and energy for winter.
Pruning stimulates growth. Removing spent blossoms will encourage new blooms. Pruning is also done for appearance. It is important to remove any canes that are crossing over each other, growing inward, dead, diseased or broken. Do not prune too much at one time. Roses store their nutrients in the canes and too much removal will slow down foliage growth and blossoms. It is always best to prune your rose 1/4th of an inch above an outward facing bud at a 45 degree angle.
Weather is also a contributor to the health and well being of a rose. Fungal problems, insects, etc are partly weather related. Black Spot, a common rose problem, is more prevalent in wet weather. Roses benefit from a regular fungal spray program. By beginning a spray program as soon as the rose starts to leaf out, you have better chances of preventing diseases from occurring. Fungal diseases can’t be cured once they appear but they can be controlled. Spray every 7-10 days with a fungicide and always read the label before using.
By properly maintaining and nourishing your roses, you will be able to enjoy them for many years.
Suggestions for Success:
- Bayer Advanced Garden Triple Action Rose Food
- Bonide Rose Rx Three in One Rose Spray
- Good quality soaker hose to water roses at the base of the plant.