| If you're a rose lover, you probably know already | | | | hybrid trees. |
| that roses can serve a variety of functions, and | | | | Planting roses needs to begin with a good garden |
| are not limited to sitting in flower beds looking | | | | loam with organic matter, including peat moss, |
| pretty, though that surely remains their most | | | | compost, manure and leaf mold. The bed should |
| popular use. They can also be used in conjunction | | | | be prepared well in advance of the planting, to |
| with shrubs, hedges, vines and climbers. | | | | allow for natural setting of the soil. |
| Rose originators are unceasing in their relentless | | | | Planting is best done in the fall, but can also take |
| efforts to supply us with new and unique | | | | place in spring. Roses should be planted |
| creations that dazzle the senses and melt the | | | | immediately after purchase, and should the roots |
| heart. Some of the more popular recent creations | | | | try before that point, they should be soaked in |
| include the bright floribunda Jiminy Cricket, the | | | | water before planting. Be sure to dig a hole that is |
| pure pink tea rose the Queen Elizabeth, and the | | | | wide enough to accommodate the roots and allow |
| bright yellow peace rose. In fact there are 5,000 | | | | for future spreading. |
| different varieties of roses in the United States | | | | Maintaining healthy roses requires cultivation, |
| alone, meaning you'll all but certainly have changing | | | | pruning and spraying. A well cultivated bed limits |
| tastes as the seasons progress with the dizzying | | | | the amount of watering that is required, but in hot |
| array of options available. | | | | weather the roots should be soaked about once a |
| When selecting roses, it's important to choose | | | | week. Spraying your roses every week and a |
| healthy plants, and not base your choice solely on | | | | half will help prevent the onset of any diseases |
| the bud alone. Like many constructions, it all | | | | and ward off insect attacks. |
| begins with a solid base. Stems should be a lush | | | | Your roses should be winterized after the first |
| green with the roots moist. Do not assume that | | | | frost hits by mounding sod around their bases. In |
| the most expensive rose means the best or | | | | areas where the weather gets very cold you'll |
| most well-kept. The price may simply be based | | | | need to remove the supports from your climbing |
| on the current favorite or trendy rose at that | | | | roses. Place the canes on the ground and peg |
| point, and not on the individual rose's quality. | | | | them, then cover them with soil mounds. It's not |
| Roses come in two general types, which are bush | | | | the way you would root Dracaena colorama cane. |
| roses and climbers. Of the bush type the | | | | When springtime rolls around, trim your roses |
| dominant strain is the hybrid tea, which accounts | | | | back to about half a foot off the ground, |
| for well over 50% of all roses grown in the U.S. | | | | removing all but a few of the canes from any |
| Other well-known bush types include the | | | | hybrid teas. Once they have grown out you'll need |
| floribundas, polyanthas and the hybrid perpetuals. | | | | to remove any further buds, except the ones on |
| Climbing roses include ramblers, which are adept | | | | top of the canes. By this method you'll grow |
| at covering walls and fences, pillar roses which can | | | | strong and healthy plants with beautiful and large |
| grow near buildins and on posts, and climbing | | | | blossoms. |