| Of all the plants in your garden, roses require the | | | | that may just do the trick. |
| most attention because of their unique | | | | Rose bush vitality is all about pruning early and |
| requirements. Roses enjoy living uncluttered and | | | | often. There are going to be parts of your plants |
| clean. Without attention to the minor details of | | | | that don't respond well no matter what you do. |
| weeding, cleaning, and mulching, the nutrients they | | | | This can be frustrating. But, one of the ways I've |
| so desperately need will cause them to loss their | | | | alleviated this frustration is by focusing on my |
| vibrancy and eventually they'll wither into nothing | | | | pruning skills. I have found that by employing |
| but a spindly bed of thorns. | | | | correct pruning techniques for the various |
| However, they'll thrive for many years with just | | | | varieties of my roses, they seem to respond by |
| the minimal amounts of attention. There are | | | | focusing most of their energy on new growth, |
| records that show roses can survive twenty or | | | | which allow the unhealthy portions of the plant to |
| more years, especially wild roses. A sure indication | | | | fall away readily. It's probably a nature thing. I |
| of a neglected rose garden is sparse flowering, | | | | have seen improvements in the size and color of |
| dead canes, weak shoots, and numerous canes | | | | blooms, an increase in the number of budding |
| sprouting suckers. | | | | shoots and an overall healthier appearance. You |
| The beginning of a garden you hope will last for | | | | definitely can't go wrong by focusing on the |
| years starts with selecting the right rose variety | | | | proper pruning of your rose plants. |
| for your climate zone. You can easily determine | | | | It's difficult to write about roses and not mention |
| the right rose for your climate by reading the | | | | the most important rose care techniques. But I |
| care instructions on the package. Most garden | | | | promised you a simple guide in this article for |
| centers will only carry roses suitable for that | | | | monthly rose care. It is ordered monthly so you'll |
| region. But it never hurts to check out growing | | | | know what research to do for your roses over |
| conditions required for that particular rose. | | | | the entire year. So here are my monthly tips. |
| The next most important consideration is the | | | | - January...We don't want our plants to die |
| growing site for your new plant. We all know how | | | | because the roots froze during the colder season; |
| important sunshine is for roses. Whether the rose | | | | so cover the ground next to your rose bushes. |
| bush requires some shade or minimal shade, six | | | | - February...It starts to get a bit dry in some |
| hours is the rule of thumb espoused by most | | | | parts of the country in February. If you water, do |
| rosarians. | | | | it during the warmest part of the day. |
| Besides location, the soil in the planting area needs | | | | - March...Check with your local gardening shop. |
| to be attended to. The more precise it is for your | | | | They can recommend dormant oil, useful for |
| rose variety, the more success you'll have | | | | ridding your roses of mites, and aphids as the |
| growing the rose. One of the key features for | | | | weather heats up. |
| roses, and any other gardening plant, is | | | | - April...Now is the time to be bold. Trim the |
| well-drained soiled. Stagnant and wet soil is | | | | diseased and dead wood from your roses and |
| certainly not healthy for your rose. The soil can | | | | start the deep watering process to promote the |
| be easily adjusted if the prevailing conditions don't | | | | growth of new shoots and canes. |
| support rose growing. I've found that using a bit | | | | - May...Unhealthy canes and leaves begin to appear |
| of compost to loosen and aerate the soil for | | | | during this month. Trim them with confidence, |
| drainage is the least expensive and easiest | | | | start your fertilizing routine and give them |
| solution. | | | | massive amounts of water. |
| Next, roses require air circulation. Don't plant them | | | | - June...When the blooms are gone, get rid of |
| too close. Rose bushes bunched together | | | | them. This will encourage continued flowering. |
| encourage fungi and other bacteria to propagate. I | | | | Remember roses love water, so keep pouring it |
| have found that 24-36 inches between plants is a | | | | on. Now's also is the time to watch closely for |
| good rule of thumb. Pests don't like exposure. So | | | | pests. |
| this planting distance should keep them at bay, | | | | - July...More water, please. Add some mulch to |
| outside the normal occurrences, which can be | | | | keep the soil aerated. |
| easily dealt with. | | | | - August...Prune the spent blooms methodically and |
| Roses just don't tolerate bugs and other garden | | | | water only during the cooler parts of the day. |
| pests like some plants. Correcting the problem | | | | - September...Allow the last rose hips to complete |
| immediately is the first step. Identify the type of | | | | the blooming process as encouragement for |
| pest that you're seeing on your rose bushes. Get | | | | completion of the growing cycle. Water your |
| rid of any obvious bugs right away. The safest | | | | roses deeply about every other week. |
| precaution is to cut off the entire leaf. Bugs can | | | | - October...Heat generally begins to taper off |
| multiple fast because they lay eggs early and | | | | about now. Deep water your roses at least once |
| often. If you don't want to rid yourself of the | | | | this month. |
| leaf, at least check it thoroughly. | | | | - November...Check on your roses from time to |
| Another solution, if the problem persists is | | | | time. If the ground is dry, add some water, while |
| chemicals. I often try to avoid this and only | | | | removing any debris that has accumulated. |
| consider it as a last resort. And when I do, I'll go | | | | Now is the time to plan next years garden. Grab |
| with natural compounds first and then the harsher | | | | some catalogs, do some research and prepare |
| synthetic ones. If using synthetics be sure to | | | | for next years rose garden extravaganza. |
| follow directions carefully. The last thing you want | | | | I am especially excited about the newest addition |
| to do is accidentally shock your plant or cause a | | | | to my garden this year. Chihuly ('WEKscemala"), F, |
| worse problem than the bugs presented. | | | | rb, Carruth, 2004. I first spotted them in a friend's |
| In between choosing to use natural versus | | | | garden several years ago. They took my breath |
| synthetics, there is a third option. Once you've | | | | away with their dazzling colors and full blossoms. |
| determined the type of pests you are trying to | | | | It was like looking at a piece of fine art, aptly |
| rid your roses of, do some research on what | | | | named for the artist it represents. We'll talk more |
| other insects thrive on the insects you're trying to | | | | about how roses get their names and |
| get rid of. There are a variety of wasps and | | | | designations in future articles. |
| ladybugs that you can introduce into the garden | | | | |