| 'Neighbors envy Owners pride' aptly describes a | | | | to remove any air pockets and once the water is |
| well-tended rose garden. Growing roses is not as | | | | drained fill up the hole with soil. To enrich the soil |
| difficult as it is portrayed; contrary to popular | | | | further, you can place a layer of hair - save up |
| opinion rose plants do not need much attention. All | | | | your hair from your combs before you start |
| they need are the '4 essentials': Soil, Space, | | | | planting! - on top of the mound and then add rose |
| Water, Sun, and of course tender loving care, so | | | | plant food or a fertilizer. Adding a 3-4 inches layer |
| grab a shovel and get started! | | | | of mulch about 2 -3 inches around the plant is a |
| The first thing you need to do is to check with | | | | good way of keeping the soil moist and staving |
| your nursery on the best disease-resistant variety | | | | away weeds; if the mulch is too close to the |
| for your climate zone. Also, depending on the | | | | plant, the roots may rot. |
| type of pests / diseases that could attack your | | | | Watering |
| rose plant, you should intersperse your garden | | | | Your rose plant will need to be watered every |
| with other plants which will bring down the | | | | day for a week after planting and then you can |
| incidence of insects. | | | | taper it to once or twice a week. Watering should |
| When you bring your rose plants home from the | | | | be done only in the mornings - this prevents |
| nursery, you should place them in a cool place | | | | mildew and black spots, and you should only |
| preferably the basement, in a tub of water for at | | | | water the roots and avoid wetting the leaves. |
| least a day which will keep the roots moisturized. | | | | Moist leaves make the plant vulnerable to spread |
| Although rose plants are quite sturdy and can | | | | of diseases. You need to water deeply for about |
| survive for many days without soil, keeping them | | | | half an hour if you do not get much rainfall or if it |
| in water ensures that the plants remain healthy. | | | | is very hot or humid, and ensure that the soil is |
| Planting Your Roses | | | | always moist to make the roots stronger and |
| Select a spot that is directly under the sun but | | | | healthier. An easy way of checking when your |
| you may need to provide some shade in the | | | | plant needs water is to dip a finger into the soil |
| afternoons in very hot climate zones. Check your | | | | and if it comes out dry, it is time to quench its |
| soils pH balance and its drainage capacity as rose | | | | thirst! You can occasionally spray the foliage with |
| plants need a certain level of acidity and alkalinity | | | | water to keep it clean and rid of spider mites and |
| anywhere between 5.3 and 7.0 depending on the | | | | other harmful insects. |
| variety. You may have to either increase the pH | | | | Pruning |
| where alkalinity is insufficient by adding lime, or | | | | Pruning is an essential activity that keeps your |
| decrease the pH where acidity is insufficient, with | | | | rose plants healthy and blossoming regularly. One |
| fertilizers containing Ammonium - N. | | | | way of reducing the frequency is to cut the |
| You can use a simple method to check the | | | | roses regularly. The ideal time for pruning varies |
| drainage capacity of your soil. Dig a 1 foot deep | | | | from place to place but the start of spring, |
| hole and fill it up to the brim with water and allow | | | | before the plants sprouts new growth, is by far |
| it to drain out completely and then refill the hole. | | | | the best. Prune about ¼ inch above the |
| If the water drains out within two hours, the soil | | | | outward facing bud and you should make a clean |
| is perfect for your rose plant as what you need | | | | cut at a 45 degree angle; this enables the water |
| is moist soil - not dry or muddy. Dry soil will dry | | | | to drain. You should start pruning from the base |
| out the roots and muddy soil will lead to rotting of | | | | of the plant and cut about a third of the length of |
| the roots. | | | | each stem. Make sure that you prune all dead or |
| Now, you are ready to start planting. Arm | | | | dying, diseased, or damaged wood. Aim to open |
| yourself with a shovel, garden rake, tines, and | | | | up and shape the plant so that the centre of the |
| your gloves and get down to it. Aerate the soil by | | | | plant will also get maximum sun and air. |
| poking holes in it with the tines, rake peat moss | | | | Feeding Your Roses |
| into the soil to add essential nutrients, and then dig | | | | If the leaves are turning yellow with green veins, |
| holes 2 feet to 10 feet apart (again this depends | | | | your soil pH is probably high and you need to get |
| on the type of rose bush you have adopted) to | | | | a well-balanced fertilizer with an iron supplement. |
| give adequate space for the roots to spread out. | | | | You need to fertilize the soil once a week or on |
| The holes should ideally be 1 - 1.5 feet in diameter | | | | alternate weeks and you can consider adding |
| and deep enough for the bud union to be 1 - 2 | | | | Magnesium sulphate for added color. You should |
| inches above the ground in warm climates, and | | | | stop fertilizing six weeks before frost sets in. |
| 1-2 inches below the ground in cold climates. Make | | | | Once you've done all this, you can sit back and |
| a mound of the soil in the centre of the hole and | | | | enjoy the fruit or, in this case, the 'flowers' of |
| spread the roots over it. Fill the hole with water | | | | your labor! |